Turnips have long been used to treat edema, rheumatoid arthritis, migraines, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). They are also frequently employed in traditional medicine to treat hepatitis, jaundice, and sore throats.
The turnip is one of the oldest and most difficult vegetables. When dinosaurs were still alive, they grew wild in Siberia and earned a reputation for being used as nourishment for farm animals and the poor. The majority of people today wouldn’t know a turnip if they tasted or saw one. Most typically, people mistake it for the rutabaga, a cabbage and turnip hybrid.
What is Turnip?
It is a root vegetable that is a member of the mustard plant family, Brassicaceae. It is ready for harvest in the spring and the fall. Turnips come in more than 30 different varieties, with the most common having a light purple top and a white bottom. Others are sweeter, while some taste more like potatoes than carrots.
Contrary to popular opinion, turnips can be prepared similarly to radishes and consumed raw. Baby turnips can be served as crudité with a dipping sauce or sliced and added to salads for a crisp, slightly zingy flavor. They can also be used as a salad on their own; just slice them thinly and top with your chosen dressing. You can choose whether to peel them or not, much like with carrots, but the thicker the skin, the more likely you are to need to peel them.
Health Benefits of Turnips
Turnips are advantageous due to their nutrient composition and disease-fighting abilities. They have a rich purple hue and a strong flavor, making them one of the oldest vegetables grown anywhere in the world.Have Antimicrobial Properties
Phenylethyl isothiocyanate is a particular substance that is present in turnips. Against food-borne pathogens such Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus cereus, this substance has demonstrated antibacterial action. To support this assertion, additional research is required.Help During Pregnancy
Iron and folic acid are both abundant in turnip greens. These are critical for pregnant mothers. Along with other leafy green vegetables, regular eating of this root vegetable can assist pregnant women in meeting their daily nutritional needs.Help Improve Memory
Choline is present in turnip greens. Many critical processes require choline. Memory is aided by a structural element of cell membranes. It aids in reducing inflammation and is a part of neurotransmitters.Help Prevent Osteoporosis
Turnips are important for bone health because they contain glucosinolates, which have been shown to aid in bone growth in rats. Vitamin K is also present in this veggie. This aids in lowering fracture risk, encouraging calcium absorption, and boosting bone density.Help Reduce Anemia
One of the main causes of anemia is iron deficiency. Red blood cells include hemoglobin, which is primarily made up of iron. It is necessary for delivering oxygen to every area of the body. Due to their high iron content, turnips could aid in reducing anemia-related fatigue. Additionally abundant in vitamin C, turnips aid in the absorption of iron.Promote Healthy Skin And Hair
Iron and the vitamins A and C are abundant in turnips. They are all necessary for healthy skin and hair. Skin physiology benefits from vitamin A. It might support sebum production and acne prevention. In order to use turnips for healthy skin, more research is required.Promote Weight Loss
Turnips can help you lose weight because they stimulate receptors involved in lipid metabolism, which prevents lipids from building up in fat cells. Turnip extract dramatically decreased total triglyceride and cholesterol levels, blood glucose, lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide, and body weight in animal experiments. Rats with metabolic syndrome brought on by fructose were used to study these effects.
Turnip has a low glycemic index and little calories. Turnips have a glycemic index of 30 when they are raw, compared to 85 when they are cooked. Turnips’ high dietary fiber content also promotes satiety and lessens the occurrence of hunger pains. Turnips’ positive benefits on metabolic health could support weight loss.
Have Antidiabetic Properties
Turnip extracts have been shown to have anti-diabetic benefits in studies on turnips for blood sugar regulation. The vegetable may help control blood sugar levels by elevating the insulin to glucagon ratio, according to some reports.
To fully comprehend turnips’ antidiabetic benefits, more research is necessary.
Protect The Liver And Kidney
In mice, turnips have also demonstrated hepatoprotective effects.
A turnip root ethanolic extract was discovered to offer protection against rat hepatic damage in another study.
The development of a significant quantity of scar tissue in the liver, known as hepatic fibrogenesis, was also found to be prevented by turnip water extract.
Reduce Cancer Risk
Turnips contain anticancer glucosinolates and isothiocyanates.
According to research, turnips can be used to prevent malignancies such those of the ovary, colon, bladder, lung, prostate, and breast.
Turnips have been shown to have anticancer properties in studies using human lung cancer cells.
MIMI (Multi ion mask insert)
- Can be worn with any facemask and provides additional heavy-duty protection.
- Adult & Youth Sizes Available
Improve Cardiovascular Health
Turnips have anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant qualities that may help in lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases, thus you can eat turnips for heart health. The vegetables include a lot of good fats, which may aid in controlling cholesterol levels.Relieve Intestinal Problems
Turnips are a good food to eat for digestion because they are high in fiber. The vegetable has historically been used to treat a number of digestive disorders. Due to its role in bowel movement, dietary fiber consumption has been linked to a lower incidence of diverticular disease. On the other hand, some studies suggest that a high fiber intake may not be effective in preventing asymptomatic diverticulosis.
More recent research, however, suggests that a high consumption of dietary fiber may lower the incidence of diverticular disease. Those who consume 30 g of fiber daily may cut their risk of the condition by 41%.
It has been demonstrated that a high-fiber diet helps the population of gut bacteria to improve (8). The health advantages of turnips for reducing inflammation are increased by these probiotic bacteria. The microorganisms in the intestines might also facilitate bowel motions. This benefit will be better understood with more in-depth study in the field.
Additionally, turnips have been demonstrated to combat Helicobacter pylori, the bacteria responsible for stomach ulcers. Turnips can assist your intestinal health if you eat them regularly. They might also help with gastrointestinal problems like gas, bloating, and constipation.
How to Select and Store Turnips?
Although turnips are available all year long, they primarily thrive in cold climates. Therefore, from winter through spring, turnips would be available fresh and sweet.
When choosing, aim for plants with dense, green tops, smaller sizes, heavy skin, and no brown or unhealthy-looking patches. For up to a week, and occasionally longer, they can be kept in the refrigerator when sealed in plastic bags. Turnips’ root and greens can both be utilized in cooking. They have many use in the cooking while having a mild flavor.
Cook Turnips
Both raw and cooked turnips can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Depending on their size and the preferred cooking method, they can be diced, chopped, sliced, or left whole. Cooking techniques include baking, boiling, sautéing, and steaming. To keep them crunchy, one must be careful not to overcook them.
Turnips must be well washed under running water and scrubbed with a brush to remove any dirt or fungicide residues before cooking or serving them. It is not necessary to peel or remove the greens from them.
Side Effects Of Turnips
The family of cruciferous plants includes turnips. Anecdotal reports suggest that consuming them in excess can result in bloating, gas, and stomach pain.
Turnips contain substances called glucosinolates and isothiocyanates that could be goitrogenic. They might affect how the thyroid hormone behaves. Before ingesting turnips, people with thyroid problems may need to speak with their doctor.
Turnips can complicate kidney stone sufferers’ conditions. There is no study to support this, though. Turnips may help the kidneys, however people with kidney problems should talk to their doctor before eating turnips.
Bottom Line
The many health advantages of turnips are due to their advantageous components. Turnips can help with digestive issues, aid in weight loss, and improve the condition of the skin and hair when consistently consumed as part of a healthy diet. Additionally, turnips’ glucosinolates and isothiocyanates lower cancer risk. Additionally, turnips help improve the condition of the heart, liver, and kidneys. These also enhance cognition, have anti-diabetic qualities, and help control anemia and osteoporosis. You can eat turnips either raw or cooked in your diet. However, excessive ingestion may result in bloating, gas, and stomach discomfort. So it’s recommended to consume in moderation.
A cruciferous vegetable with numerous health advantages is turnips.
They have an outstanding nutritional profile, and bioactive components like glucosinolates may help regulate blood sugar, guard against dangerous microorganisms, and have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.
