Ingredient Spotlight: Horseradish
Horseradish is a root vegetable known for its pungent flavor, used for centuries for its medicinal properties. It's also known to gardeners for its tendency to spread aggressively throughout and between garden beds!
Horseradish has been cultivated and referenced as far back as antiquity: in Ancient Greek mythology the Oracle of Delphi told Apollo - the god of healing and medicine - that horseradish is worth its weight in gold.
Horseradish is exceptionally nutrient dense and particularly high in vitamins and minerals, most notably Vitamin C, potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus.
It also contains antioxidants and other compounds that have been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects, relieving conditions such as arthritis, asthma and allergies.
As far as digestive health, horseradish has been shown to stimulate the production of digestive enzymes, believed to improve digestion and alleviate symptoms such as bloating and gas.
Studies have also shown that horseradish contains compounds that boost the immune system and prevent the growth of cancer cells. Recent studies have suggested that glucosinolates and isothiocyanates - compounds contained in high amounts in horseradish - provide prevention and inhibitory influences on different types of cancer.
We're proud to feature horseradish in all of our Fire Ciders as well as in our Sweet Fire Oxymel.
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References:
S.A. Walters (2021) Horseradish: A Neglected and Underutilized Plant Species for Improving Human Health Horticulturae 7:7