Root Vegetables And Diet

Root vegetables are aptly named as these are underground plant parts which are consumed as food. Precisely,root vegetables are modified storage organs of the plants, functions to store nutrients,water and energy in the form of carbohydrates uptaken through the soil. Therefore,these are booster packages loaded with high concentrations of starch and carbohydrates. These root vegetables are called the ' Underground Treasure of Mother Nature '. 

December is known as ' Root Vegetables And Exotic Fruits Month'. 

In order to highlight the significance of root vegetables in our diet, let's take a look at some of the root vegetables and their medicinal values -

• TURMERIC ROOT

Turmeric root is widely used as a spice, coloring and flavoring agent containing many medicinal properties.

It is useful in relieving menstrual cramps due to its antispasmodic properties. 

It is used to cure common cold as well as hastens healing of wounds.

• GINGER

Ginger root is widely used in the Indian subcontinent. India is the largest producer of ginger.

It is used as an appetizer due to its property to stimulate the taste buds.

It improves digestion and is useful in curing motion sickness while traveling.

• CARROT

Carrots are commonly used in salads as they are light to digest and hence assist in cutting those extra calories.

They are a rich source of vitamin A and help in curing xerophthalmia.

• RADISH

Radishes,when raw, are light to digest and hence are used in salads.

These are used to cure dyspnea and hemorrhoids.

Radishes should not be consumed ripe or fried in oil.

• TURNIP 

Turnips help in improving metabolism and weight loss.

It acts as a diuretic (reduces water retention) and cures high blood pressure and edema.

• BEETROOT

Beetroots remove toxins from our body and reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

It also prevents wrinkles.

• COLOCASIA 

Colocasia improves physical strength,provides structure to the body.

It also eases the symptoms of diarrhea.

• SWEET POTATO

Sweet potatoes are known to have aphrodisiac properties ( improves sexual dysfunctions).

It also helps in relieving diarrhea.

ARTICLE SOURCES - 

1. https://krishijagran.com/agripedia/10-highly-nutritious-roots-and-tuber-vegetables-in-india/?amp=1

'You can say, roots and tubers are the “underground treasure” of Mother Nature.'

2. Pole, Sebastian. Ayurvedic Medicine: The Principles of Traditional Practice. Churchill Livingston; 2006. 282-283.

" Turmeric is used in Ayurveda to balance vata, pitta, and kapha, though in excess, it can aggravate pitta and vata. It has a particularly beneficial effect for rasa and rakta dhatus"

3. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia Of India. Part 1 Volume 1.

"आर्दकं नागरगुणं भेदनं दीपनं गुरु॥ कटूष्णं दीपनं वृष्यं रुच्यमार्दकनागरम्।

श्वासकासवमीहिक्कवातश्लेष्मविबन्धनुत् ।। पाचनं रोचनं वृष्यं कटूष्णं वह्निदीपनम् ।

वातप्रकोपशमनं पाचनं शोथहृत्परम् ॥ भोजनादौ सदा पथ्यं जिह्वाकण्ठविशोधनम्।

अव्यक्तरसवीर्यत्वात्तत्परं तु कफापहम् ॥ काञ्जिकार्द्र सलवणं दीपनं पाचनं परम् । 

वातप्रकोपशमनं हर्षणं लवणार्द्रकम् ॥- भावप्रकाश"

4. http://www.ayurvedicsouldiet.com/shop/benefits-of-turnip-ayurvedic-diet/

" Ayurvedic Qualities (Dravya Guna)

Taste (Rasha)- Astringent, Pungent

Potency (Virya)- Hot

Digestive Juice (Vipaka)- Pungent

Texture Quality (Guna)- Rough and dry

Effect on dosha- Kapha decreases"

5. https://nirogstreet.com/blog/herbs/beetroot-health-benefits

Cholesterol is usually because of an imbalance of pachakagni, and beetroot helps balance the pachakagni and manage high cholesterol levels.Beetroot has Vata balancing property, which helps in controlling the aggravated Vata, which is responsible for wrinkles on the skin.

6. https://www.1mg.com/ayurveda/sweet-potato-138/amp

Sweet potato helps to correct male sexual dysfunction and also improve stamina. This is due to its Vajikarana (aphrodisiac) property.

7. भावप्रकाश शाकवर्ग - 

"गाजरं मधुरं तीक्ष्णं तिक्तोष्णं दीपनं‌ लघु।

संग्राहि रक्तपित्तार्शोग्रहणीकफवातजित्।।"

8. "नासिकाकण्ठरोगघ्नं नयनामयनाशनम्।

महत्तदेव रूक्षोष्णं गुरूदोषत्रयप्रदम्।

स्नेहसिद्धं तदेव स्याद्दोषत्रयविनाशनम्।।"

9. रक्तालुभेदे या दीर्घा तन्वी च पृथुतालुकी ।

आलुकी बलकृत्स्निग्धा गुर्वी हृत्कफनाशिनी।

विष्टम्भकारिणी तैले तलिताऽतिरुचिप्रदा।।

IMAGE SOURCES - 

1. https://femina.wwmindia.com/content/2019/aug/sweetpotatoes1566543341.jpg

2. https://www.khetifresh.com/cgi-sys/suspendedpage.cgi

3. https://5.imimg.com/data5/QT/RN/MY-46595757/beetroot-500x500.png?hl=en_IN

4. https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/614oyDsjIBL._AC_SL1000_.jpg?hl=en_IN

5. https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51VwLKoBM5L.jpg

6. https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/710EvtgG++L._SX466_.jpg

7. https://www.eatthis.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/11/ginger-root.jpg?quality=82&strip=all

8. https://5.imimg.com/data5/CG/UT/HF/SELLER-69048949/fresh-turmeric-root-500x500.jpg

9. https://cdn2.vectorstock.com/i/thumb-large/43/56/kawaii-smiling-radish-cartoon-vector-32914356.jpg

10. https://www.cuteeasydrawings.com/uploads/allimg/201111/1_201111135853_1.png

11. https://i.pinimg.com/originals/8f/05/17/8f0517135e33a3f1ad573d1dc16318b9.jpg

12. https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/b/successful-ginger-character-cartoon-style-successful-ginger-character-cartoon-style-vector-illustration-109163758.jpg