Turnip (Brassica rapa L.) is a herbaceous two-year-old plant from the family of cruciferous or cabbage. About 4,000 years ago turnip was cultivated and since then she liked everything steamed, boiled, fried with butter, with kvass, or fresh from the garden. For example, in Russia there was always a turnip on the tables, as it was the main food product, until potatoes were brought to Russia during the time of Catherine II.
Turnip for a long time in Russia and in Europe was the most affordable vegetable, especially in winter. "Repnik" was considered the most common old soup prepared from turnips and malt. There was a turnip from Siberia and is considered a close relative of cabbage. In the world there are many varieties of this plant, which differ from each other in color, shape and size of root crops.
Turnip can be called a "golden" vegetable and all due to the fact that it contains and combines different vitamins and minerals.
Chemical composition of turnip.
Turnip contains carbohydrates, vitamins, microelements, glucoraphanin, a rare component that is a vegetable "precursor" of sulforaphane and which has the strongest anti-diabetic and anti-cancer properties.
And although glucoraphanin is found in many types of cabbage, but turnips, cauliflower, broccoli and kohlrabi, it is found in a biologically significant amount. The turnip includes vitamins A, C, PP, B1, B5, B2, potassium, carotene, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulfur, sodium, iron, iodine and manganese in small quantities.
The turnip of vitamin C contains twice as much as in oranges, lemons and cabbage. But after all, they are champions by the amount of ascorbic acid. Phosphorus in turnips is contained more than in radish and radish. Turnip contains mineral salts, which are necessary for the human body, and which give it medicinal properties.
For example, sulfur salts disinfect and purify blood, splitting stones in the bladder and in the kidneys. In addition, the salt of sulfur for skin diseases, various infections and bronchitis has a beneficial effect.
Magnesium is included in the turnip and so it is used as a preventive measure against cancer. It is worth considering and the fact that magnesium is able to help bone tissues accumulate calcium, which in turn develops and strengthens the skeleton, which is very important for the developing organism of a teenager. This fact is also important for older people, as they begin to weaken the bones, which means that the risk of developing osteoporosis increases.
Beneficial features.
Medicinal properties of turnip are widely used in folk medicine for the prevention and treatment of a number of diseases. In folk medicine, turnips have been used since ancient times. And this is understandable, because it is able to clean and improve the intestines and stomach. Turnip has diuretic and antiseptic properties. People who are obese, and also with diabetes are encouraged to eat turnip meals. Turnip low-calorie, in addition, it helps to lose excess kilograms. Turnip advise to use and for diseases of the gallbladder and liver. The use of turnip stimulates the work of the gastrointestinal tract. Also, there are properties in the turnip that normalize the metabolism.
Freshly squeezed turnip juice is used as a diuretic and expectorant. It is used turnip and for the prevention of hypovitaminosis and beriberi, and as a remedy is used for spastic colitis, hypoacid gastritis.