It’s the long awaited horseradish post, sorry for the delay, I was waiting because I wanted to use horseradish to either help clear up (whatever came first) my allergies or like I have now sinus pressure, I like to test out some of these theories before bringing to you.

So its finally time to explore the benefits of horseradish.  Now horseradish is not to everyone’s taste and some may say it is an acquired taste (I did not start eating it until my 20’s), there are a lot of benefits to your health (not just taste enhancing) by including it in your diet

To begin horseradish is a very pungent herb, mostly used to enhance flavor of food, but can be used to improve human health (and has been used for centuries).

Horseradish contains the following nutrients:

• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Potassium
• Folates
• Vitamin C
• Zinc

It is truly a superfood.  It contains the following health benefits, it:

• Has anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties
• Contains enzymes that stimulate digestion
• Can regulate bowel movement
• Can reduce constipation
• Can clear sinus pressure (I have been personally been using horseradish as of the last week for this and it does clear up sinus pressure)
• Can treat high blood pressure

However, with benefits there are side effects to be weary of, if taking horseradish

• Irritation to the digestive tract of children under 4 years old
• Irritation to the digestive tract of people with stomach or intestinal ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease, infections in the digestive tract, or other digestive diseases
• Increased urine flow, which can be a problem for some people with kidney disorders
• Worsening hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland)

As usual though there is not enough research available to firmly conclude all the benefits and side effects of horseradish.  Take at your own risk, I recommend if you can handle it and like the taste, to try to use it and experiment like I did during any times of allergies or sinus pressure.

Please go over to the recipe section to get a homemade horseradish recipe.

Sources:

Could You Benefit From Horseradish Supplements? (2020, June 15). Verywell Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/horseradish-benefits-4585217

Health Benefits of Horseradish. (2020, September 18). WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-horseradish

Walters, S. A. (n.d.). Horseradish: A Neglected and Underutilized Plant Species for Improving Human Health. MDPI. https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/7/7/167/htm