List Of Root Vegetables With Pictures

Although most of the root vegetables are ugly, they provide many nutrients; especially you can easily mix them with different dishes. Some allow you to eat them raw, but they are also good when being cooked or boiled. Here is my list of root vegetables with pictures below:

Onions

Onions are rich in Vitamin C, fiber, especially antioxidants that bring many health benefits.

It can prevent disease and keep you from oxidative damage. Consuming a high intake can lower the risk of common cancer types thanks to the onion’s powerful anti-cancer properties. Or eating 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of raw onions every day can decrease the blood sugar level in patients with diabetes.

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are high in a lot of nutrients: fiber, Vitamin C and A, manganese, and many antioxidants: anthocyanins, chlorogenic acid, and beta-carotene.

Eating 4 grams of white sweet potato per day for 3 months can improve blood sugar control in patients with diabetes. Its vitamin A improves immune function, skin health and keeps you from vision loss.

You can enjoy this sweet dish in different cooking methods: baking, boiling, roasting, and sauteing. They are usually served with sandwiches and salads for a delicious breakfast, but some people also love eating them as a tasty side dish.

Turnips

Turnips are a fast-growing plant, suiting people who don’t want to wait for long to see their fruit. They grow best in cool conditions, so you should sow them in early spring or late summer to crop before the hot summer.

Turnips are a great source of potassium, Vitamin C, manganese, and fiber.

Vitamin C plays a vital role in boosting your immunity, decreasing the severity of respiratory infections like the common cold.

You can eat both young and mature turnips to reduce colorectal, breast, stomach, and lung cancer risk. Here are some suggestions for you: turnip fries, stir-fry, coleslaw, and salad mixed with turnips.

Gingers

Gingers are packed with antioxidants like gingerol, which provides humans with many health benefits.

According to many pregnant women, ginger can help them decrease morning sickness and nausea. Besides, it also enables you to relieve pain and inflammation like menstrual pain and symptoms of osteoarthritis.

They are mixed well with tea, smoothies, soups, and stews.

Beets

Beets are loaded with a high level of manganese, folate, and fiber, especially nitrates that dilate your blood vessels, improve your heart health, decrease blood pressure, raise blood flow to your brain and improve your exercise performance.

Plus, beetroot extract has anticancer properties and slows the development and spread of cancer cells.

For the maximum effects on your health, you should roast, juice, pickle, boil, and steam them.

Garlic

A serving of garlic can boast many vital nutrients such as manganese, Vitamin C and B6. It is also well-known for its medicinal properties because of its allicin released when you crush, chew, and chop cloves of garlic.

What can the garlic do?

Boost immune function because it can prevent infections like the common cold and reduce symptom severity.

It works well with sauces, soups, main course, and side dishes.

Radishes

It’s easy to plant and grow radishes, suitable for novice vegetable cultivators. This root vegetable is low in carbs and calories, but it is high in fiber and Vitamin C, especially antifungal properties.

Eating radish leaves can keep you from stomach ulcers.

It is served with meals and snacks, and radishes are mixed well with slaws, salads, sandwiches, and tacos.

Fennel

Fennel is high in Vitamin C, fiber, potassium, and manganese. In particular, it contains anethole that features a unique flavor and aroma. It brings a lot of health benefits. Fennel, for example, modifies some enzymes in the carb metabolism to decrease blood sugar levels. Meanwhile, its antimicrobial properties can inhibit bacteria development.

You can eat fresh fennel or roast and sauteed fennel; it's even better to mix it with pasta dishes, sauces, soups, and salads.

Carrots

The standard carrot color is orange, while other rare colors are yellow, purpose, white, black, and red.

It is packed with Vitamin A and K, and vital antioxidant beta-carotene that can strengthen your antioxidant status and lower cholesterol levels. Besides, it can decrease the risk of certain types of cancer such as stomach, prostate, and breast cancers. Carotenoid protects you from age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

You can consume carrot raw or dip in hummus. It’s common to eat with side dishes, stew, and stir-fries.

Celeriac

Celeriac is grown for its edible shoots and stems. It is high in Vitamin C, phosphorus, and Vitamin K. The latter is essential for proper blood clotting and the function of osteocalcin.

You can eat both raw and cooked celeriac. It’s mixed well with the salad. Besides, you can boil, roast, bake, and mash it to eat with different dishes.

Turmeric

Its rhizomes and roots are ground to add color and flavor to different dishes. This root vegetable has a bitter and mustard-like taste, so I don’t highly recommend eating raw.

Its curcumin content can prevent blood clot formation, reduce depression symptoms, and stabilize blood sugar levels.

Turmeric is known as a spice, working well with savory and sweet dishes, even drinks like golden turmeric milk.

For the maximum effect, it’s better to combine it with black pepper because this root vegetable contains a component that boosts curcumin absorption in your gut.

Potatoes

Potatoes are rich in fiber, Vitamin B6, C, manganese, and potassium.

Cooked and cooled potatoes are rich in resistant starch, providing beneficial gut bacteria, while boiled potatoes help you feel full longer, promoting weight loss.

Don’t eat fried potatoes and processed potatoes because they are high in salt, fat, and calories but lack nutrients.

If you're thinking of planting your own potatoes, check these Fertilizers For Potatoes.

The root vegetables provide you with many health benefits and nutrient value. Which one is the best for you? Do you know other types to add to this list?