The Longmont Farmers Market this weekend is having a radish festival and farmers will come with all things radishes.  Colorado Aromatics will also be there with a skin care tonic made from radishes! Did you know that radishes have skin benefits?

Radish benefits

Radishes come in many colors and nutritionally are high in vitamin C (great for increasing collagen in the skin), folates, vitamin B-6, riboflavin, thiamin, iron, magnesium copper, calcium. They are also high in glucosinolates which are important for supporting detox. They are high in vitamin A related compounds such as zeaxanthin, lutein, and beta carotene. Avoid radishes though if you have a thyroid disfunction.

Glucosinolates are a class of sulfur containing chemicals found in cruciferous vegetables. They include indole-3-carbinol and isothiocyanates (sulforaphane). These these are antioxidants and stimulate phase 1\I and II detoxification enzymes in epithelial tissue including skin as well as liver. Glucosinolates are also important in stimulating blood capillaries and reducing water retention. This property can be useful in relieving muscular aches and pains including arthritis.

Try this skin care tips with radish:

Grate 2-3 radishes into a small jar; enough to half way fill the jar.  You can cut some of the leaves in there too. Then  fill the jar with vinegar. Let this set several days so the vinegar can extract the glucosinolates from the radish.  Filter the radishes out and its ready to use. You can see the nice pink color the vinegar turns in this picture.

The radish vinegar can be diluted half and half with water and used as a hair rinse and for a scalp massage. The radish will increase circulation to the scalp which will improve the health of your hair follicles and improve hair growth and strength. It can also help decrease dandruff.

A second great way to use your radish vinegar is to add about half a cup to a foot bath. This will help relieve tired, aching feet.

Need a third tip? Dilute the vinegar about 1 to 10 with water and blot it on the face with a  cotton ball to use as a toner.

If you come to the Longmont farmers market Saturday you can see our vinegar. Stay tuned, there will be other veggie festivals at the market that we will also write skin care tips for.