benefits of radicchio

Radicchio can be incorporated into any diet and provide the human body with the numerous health benefits. The most common way of consuming radicchio is in the form of salad. Radicchio can even be grown in a home garden. For those who do not like the taste of fresh radicchio it can be spiced up with balsamic vinegar, cheese, olive oil, butter, honey, anchovies, lemon, garlic or bacon. Belgian endive can also be used as a substitute for radicchio in numerous different kinds of recipes. Radicchio is very efficient in toning the liver and purifying the blood, due to its potent antioxidant properties. It can also come in very handy for all those who suffer from insomnia. Radicchio as we know it nowadays has been developed at the end of the nineteenth century as one of the healthiest leafy vegetables known to man.

Radicchio is an excellent source of minerals, vitamins, dietary fiber and all other sorts of essential nutrients. It is jam packed with antioxidant substances and it does not contain any cholesterol or fats. A serving of 100 grams of radicchio contains 23 calories, 0.9 micrograms of selenium, 4.5 grams of carbohydrates, 13 milligrams of selenium, 1 gram of sugar, 40 milligrams of phosphorus, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 302 milligrams of potassium, 1.5 grams of protein, 19 milligrams of calcium, 27 International Units of vitamin A, 8 milligrams of vitamin C, 255 micrograms of vitamin K, 2.3 milligrams of vitamin E and 60 micrograms of folic acid.

Radicchio is a red leafy type of vegetable and it originates from Italy, so that is why it is also sometimes referred to as the Italian chicory. It is used for various types of salads because of its spicy and bitter taste. It can also be roasted, grilled or sauteed. Visually, it can be characterized by large red leaves with white veins.

Fresh leaves hold moderate amounts of essential Bcomplex groups of vitamins such asfolic acid, pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), pyridoxine (vitamin B6) and thiamin (vitamin B1), niacin (B3). These vitamins are essential in the sense that human body requires them from external sources to replenish and required for fat, protein and carbohydrate metabolism.

Fresh radicchio is one of the excellent sources of vitamin K. 100 g provides about 255.2

Further, it isalso good source of minerals like manganese,copper, iron, zinc, and potassium. Manganese is used as a cofactor for the antioxidant enzyme,superoxide dismutase.Potassium is an important intracellular electrolyte helps counter the hypertension effects of sodium.