Description, useful properties and contraindications of turnip

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Since ancient times, many vegetables, our ancestors used not only for food, but also as medicines for various diseases. Especially prized ordinary turnip, containing a diverse amount of trace elements, vitamins and other beneficial substances. We will discuss its useful properties and contraindications in this article.

What is a turnip?

Turnip belongs to the cruciferous family. It looks like a plant with a large succulent root with a diameter of 8 to 20 centimeters, which usually goes as food and leaves, which are at the growth from above.In the first year, under good conditions, it only grows basal leaves, and the inflorescences and stem leaves appear next year.

West Asia is considered the birthplace of vegetables, but it was also distributed in other parts of our world. For example, in ancient Egypt, the builders of the pyramids used it as food, as turnip made up for lost forces. The ancient Persians and Greeks considered this root crop too simple, and therefore they were fed only slaves.

In Russia, it was very important. It was boiled, baked, salted, stuffed and even sour for the winter. But after Peter the Great introduced potatoes into widespread use, the root crop somewhat lost its former popularity.

It is because of this that turnip is respected in the modern world.

Useful properties of vegetables

Turnip - very rich in nutrients root vegetable. Two hundred grams of chopped vegetable contains:

Vitamins

• C, 21 mg.
• A, 18 mcg.
• B1, 0.05 mg.
• B2, 0.04 mg.
• E, 0, 1.
• PP, 2 mg.
• Beta-carotene, 0.1 mg.

Minerals

• Calcium, 50 mg.
• Potassium, 240 mg.
• Magnesium, 16 mg.
• Sodium, 18 mg.
• Phosphorus, 35 mg.
• Iron, 0.8 mg.

Composition

• 90 g of water;
• 6 g of mono and disaccharide;
• 2 g of dietary fiber;
• 0.8 grams of ash;
• 0, 3 g of starch;
• 0.1 g of organic acids.

Turnip is valuable because it contains a very valuable and rare element - glucoraphanin, which fights cancer cells and has antiseptic properties.

100 grams of root vegetables contain 28 kcal.

Proteins: 1.5 g. (6 kcal)

Fat: 0.1 g (1 kcal)

Carbohydrates: 5.1 g (21 kcal)

Body benefits

Due to the high content of nutrients and nutrients, the scope of beneficial effects of turnips on the human body is large:

• Low-calorie vegetable. Suitable for those who are on diets, and for the prevention of excess weight, as it gives a feeling of satiety for a long time. From turnip you can cook a large number of various dishes, which means that its taste will not get bored.
• Antibiotic.Delays and prevents the development of certain pathogenic bacteria that are dangerous to human health.
• Improves the digestive process. It has a positive effect on the activity of the liver, preventing the development of gallstones. Also, the fiber contained in this root crop affects the contraction of the intestinal walls, protecting from stagnation of nutrients. Lowers the amount of cholesterol in the body.
• Dentist. Turnip juice and pulp strengthens the teeth and gums, cleansing them from harmful bacteria and preventing the development of diseases of the oral cavity.
• Natural antiseptic. Does not develop inflammation, accelerates the healing of wounds, and also relieves pain.
• Cleansing the body of toxins. Quickly removes harmful substances from the body due to diuretic action.
• Prevention of beriberi. In winter, the vegetable is a source of large amounts of vitamins and trace elements, supporting immunity and protecting against viral diseases.
• With respiratory disease. Vegetable juice softens the symptoms of bronchitis and asthma, as well as relieves cold inflammations in the throat and restores the seated voice.

  

  Turnip improves digestion

  

  Turnip leaves are rich in vitamins

  

  A decoction of turnips as a sedative

  

  Turnip juice has many healing properties.

• Soothing. Broths from the root helps to normalize sleep, affect the increased heart rate (for example, with tachycardia), calming and slowing it to normal levels.

Contraindications

• Due to the high content of cellulose in the fibers, it can cause bloating and gas in people who rarely eat this root vegetable.
• Harmful to people with thyroid diseases, as it affects the production of hormones and iodine.
• It is dangerous for people with diseases of the urinary system due to its diuretic action.
• It is better not to use raw turnips for people with dentures, as its flesh is quite hard and can spoil the artificial material.
• Raw vegetables are dangerous for patients with inflammation of the stomach and intestines.
• You can not use this vegetable and people with acute heart failure.

Allergy to this vegetable is rare, but still represents a danger. If a person first tries this vegetable, then he must first eat a small slice of a root crop and observe his well-being.

Food intolerance of the root is manifested as:

• nausea;
• swelling of the lips;
• acute abdominal pain;
• vomiting and diarrhea;
• rash on the body.

In folk medicine

The use of turnips in traditional medicine is very common. Most often, decoctions, compresses, and infusions are prepared from it and are simply ground to a slurry for ingestion.

Treatment of respiratory diseases. Antiseptic properties of the root, as well as its ability to relieve swelling are suitable for treating colds and alleviating asthma attacks. To do this, prepare the broth and take it throughout the illness. And chopped boiled turnips are eaten to restore the vocal cords.

Bruises and small wounds.For disinfection and rapid healing of the edges of the wound is treated or vegetable juice, or impose a slice of turnip on it. To remove the edema and bruises use a bandage, inside which is wrapped the pulp of the root.

For the prevention and treatment of beriberi. In this case, the raw vegetable is added to various salads, or 3 tablespoons of grated pulp is used several times a day. It is also useful for improving visual acuity.

With gout. Crushed boiled turnip mixed with ghee put on a sore point. In addition to the healing effect, it relieves pain.

With arrhythmias. Drinking a few tablespoons of root juice per day has a beneficial and soothing effect on heart rhythms, bringing the number of contractions of the heart muscle to the normal level of a healthy person.

In diseases of the oral cavity. To relieve a toothache, turnip juice rinsing your mouth 3 times a day. Also, this procedure prevents the development of pathogenic bacteria. If the gums are bleeding, you should rinse your mouth with her decoction.

During the diet.Since with a low calorie turnip, a turnip is a very satisfying product, potatoes are often replaced in the diet. In addition, it regulates digestion and improves bowel function.

Cure for insomnia. A decoction of this vegetable is consumed before bedtime. And you can also put a saucer with frayed pulp in the room, its smell calms and promotes deep healthy sleep.

The use of turnips in cosmetology, medicine and life

Due to the rich content of vitamins, turnips were used as cosmetics in ancient Russia. To get more nutrients to the skin, the pulp of the root crop was applied as masks, and the face was wiped with juice, and the hair was rinsed with vegetable broth.

To cleanse the skin of the face: a piece of peeled vegetable, wipe the skin in circular motions, and then rinsed with clean water at room temperature and wipe dry with a towel with a hard nap.

From freckles: apply root juice on clean, dry skin with a cotton pad and hold for 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. To heighten the effect, you can add lemon juice, but on condition that the skin type of the face is oily. For dry skin, the vegetable pulp is mixed with a small amount of milk or kefir, and is applied in a thick layer on the face. Such a mask can be done every other day.

For moisturizing and nourishing the skin: for a deeper effect, the turnip pulp is best mixed with the fresh pulp of other vegetables, such as cucumber, tomato, carrot. Such a mask in addition to nutrition, also removes signs of fatigue from the skin, smoothing it, making it more fresh and elastic.

To normalize the work of the sebaceous glands: ground vegetable pulp is mixed with egg white and keep the mask on the face for about 15 minutes.

If after 10-15 minutes redness is not observed, then you can use the root crop as a cosmetic.

In modern medicine, turnips are most often used as an expectorant and diuretic. But doctors with this vegetable are very cautious, so it is not widely used in classical medicine.

As a food product

The most important value of turnips in everyday life - is the use of food. It can be prepared as:

A simple snack.Thinly chopped root pulp is mixed with chopped cucumber and curd cheese, salted. The resulting mass is put in tartlets.

The main dish. Small root vegetables, peeled and cut into floors, pickled for half an hour in a mixture of mayonnaise, soy sauce and crushed garlic. After wrapped in foil and baked on coals or in the oven. Serve, decorated with greens.

Dessert. In the pan, preheat the sugar with a small amount of water (3 to 1), after the mass thickens, it is completely dipped in slices of the root crop strung on skewers. Next, caramelized turnips sprinkled with powdered sugar and served to the table.

Recipes from the traditional Russian vegetable, there are a large number, moreover, even during heat treatment, it does not lose most of its beneficial properties.

Turnip is a very valuable and nutrient-rich vegetable, the correct use of which not only nourishes, but also heals the entire body in different directions, contributing to a slim figure and outward beauty.