It seems the most natural thing to do is to buy radishes and cut off the radish tops, but Director Lü Li of the Nutrition Department of the General Hospital of the Chinese People's Armed Police Force says that radish tops are the vegetable with the highest calcium content, making them very suitable for people with calcium deficiency. Discarding the radish tops is equivalent to discarding the most nutritious part of the radish.
Director Lü Li stated that regardless of the type of radish top, they have a clear advantage in terms of calcium supplementation. For example, soybeans, which are known for their good calcium-supplementing effect, contain about 191 milligrams of calcium per 100 grams. However, 100 grams of red radish tops contain 350 milligrams of calcium, almost double the amount in soybeans.
In the table of food nutrients, 100 grams of red (carrot) tops contain 350 milligrams of calcium, ranking first among all vegetables in calcium content. Small radish tops contain 238 milligrams, and green radish tops contain 110 milligrams, both of which are also at the top of the calcium content rankings.
Stir-fried Red Radish Tops
In addition to supplementing calcium, radish tops also contain various minerals and trace elements, making them a very nutritionally complete vegetable. The rich crude fiber can also relieve constipation. Furthermore, radish tops are high in molybdenum. Therefore, drinking radish top soup regularly can help prevent myopia, presbyopia, and cataracts to a certain extent.
But don't assume that because radish tops are high in calcium, the radish itself must be too. 100 grams of red radish flesh contains only 86 milligrams of calcium. Although they grow on the same plant, their calcium content is vastly different.
Like many vegetables, the vitamins in radish tops are easily lost, so it's best to blanch them and eat them cold in a salad. Additionally, radish tops can be used to make dumplings or soups. When making dumplings or soups, it's best to eat them with meat. This not only enhances the calcium-supplementing effect, but the light, slightly bitter taste and rich crude fiber of the radish tops can also make the meat easier to digest.
Clear the radish