We know that it’s important for pregnant people to be mindful of what they eat. After all, the nutrients in the food they consume are passed directly to their growing baby. It’s helpful for pregnant people to eat a wide variety of nourishing food choices to get adequate amounts of all the nutrients important for pregnancy. But, between various other responsibilities and the hustle and bustle of welcoming a new family member, it’s hard to keep track of all the beneficial foods for pregnancy. Which ones to include and exclude can be so confusing!
As you can imagine, I get questions daily from my readers about whether certain foods are safe and good choices to eat while pregnant. One of the foods readers often ask me about is radishes. If you’re reading this post, you’re curious about them too! You may be wondering how to enjoy them or if you can eat raw radish during pregnancy? To answer your questions and clear up any confusion, I’m sharing everything you need to know about radishes and whether you can include them in your diet during pregnancy.
Radishes For Pregnancy
Are Radishes Good For Pregnancy?
First, yes, radishes are safe for pregnancy!
For the most part, radishes are a good choice for pregnancy as long as they are thoroughly washed before eating. The main concern is the soil they’re grown in. Because radishes are a root, they’re at a higher risk of being grown in soil contaminated with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. This parasite can cause toxoplasmosis, an especially dangerous infection for pregnant people. Toxoplasmosis infection can lead to developmental problems, miscarriage, or stillbirth.
Despite this risk, with a few food safety precautions, radishes can still be enjoyed during pregnancy. Thoroughly washing or cooking them before you eat them will reduce the likelihood of contamination. But we’ll get more into that in a bit.
Radishes have many vitamins and minerals and contain polyphenols, vitamin C, potassium, phosphorus, and fiber, which all support your and your baby’s health and well-being during pregnancy. Next, let’s take a closer look at the myriad health benefits of eating radishes during pregnancy.
Benefits Of Eating Radishes During Pregnancy
Good Source of Potassium
Radishes are a good source of potassium, an essential mineral, and electrolyte. Potassium supports normal fluid balance, hormone production, heart function, and more.
Support Baby’s Development With Vitamin C
Radishes are rich in vitamin C, which plays a crucial role in your baby’s development. Beyond supporting immunity and skin health, vitamin C plays a role in your baby’s brain development. It also plays a role in regulating blood sugar levels and the synthesis of collagen.
Blood Sugar Regulation
Radishes provide some fiber and are low in carbohydrates. They also contain a good amount of phosphorus, a nutrient that does a lot to support a healthy pregnancy, including supporting the regulation of blood sugar levels.
May Reduce the Risk of Some Pregnancy Complications
Radishes are full of non-flavonoid polyphenols and glucosinolates. These powerful compounds have proven antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In conjunction with vitamin C, potassium, phosphorus, and folate, the benefits of eating radish during pregnancy include a reduced risk of serious pregnancy complications. To name just a few, this includes miscarriage and preeclampsia.
How To Eat Radishes During Pregnancy
Wash the radishes thoroughly.
One of the easiest safety measures you can take when eating produce during pregnancy is washing them thoroughly. This is especially true of raw vegetables. Radishes must be washed thoroughly before they can safely be eaten during pregnancy in case they were grown in contaminated soil. Scrub and wash each radish under running water, ideally with a vegetable brush and remove any visible dirt. And, of course, wash your hands before and after.
Remove any damaged areas.
All bruised or browned parts of the radish should be removed before they are cooked and eaten. These damaged areas are known to be susceptible to bacteria that could have many harmful effects. For this same reason, you should also throw away any overly browned radishes.
Avoid eating raw radish sprouts.
As with all types of sprouts, it is best to avoid eating raw radish sprouts during pregnancy. Raw sprouts carry a higher risk of being contaminated with harmful bacteria. Bacteria including Salmonella, Listeria, and E coli. The safest way to consume sprouts is to cook them to a minimum internal temperature of 165 ℉ before eating.
If you are concerned about eating raw radishes, cooking them after washing will further reduce the risk of making you sick. Cook radishes by steaming or adding them to soups, stews, and sauteed dishes.
Clean your kitchen equipment after contact.
Preparing radishes for a snack, side dish, or meal usually involves using several kitchen tools and equipment. If, for example, you use a cutting board when chopping radishes, it’s important to wash it afterward thoroughly. Any time you prep food in the kitchen, your equipment should be thoroughly washed when finished. Otherwise, there is potential cross-contamination. Proper pregnancy kitchen etiquette also includes washing your hands before eating.
Ways To Eat Radishes
Radishes do not have a strong flavor but can add a colorful crunch to many dishes!
Ideas for including radishes in your daily meals and snacks include:
- Consume raw
- Sliced over salads
- Sliced on top of avocado toast
- Dipped into hummus, pesto, or tzatziki
- Mixed into greek yogurt with cucumbers and dill
- Baked as radish chips
- Baked with butter on a baguette
- Roasted and dipped in ranch
- Sauteed with bacon
Nutrition Facts For Radishes
There are many ways to incorporate a variety of vegetables into your pregnancy diet. Some caution needs to be taken on what pregnant women eat and there is a lot of conflicting information about which ones are safe (or not) for you and your baby. For more information on all the foods to include in your diet and the ones to avoid, check out The Prenatal Nutrition Library. It’s the most comprehensive library of prenatal nutrition information available and the first searchable app for food during pregnancy. Download the app here!!
