It grows naturally along streams in Japanese mountain areas with temperatures typically around 13 ° C (55 ° F).
The growing popularity of Japanese cuisine over the last twenty years has increased interest in its cultivation and is now also being produced in Korea, New Zealand, Taiwan, China, and Oregon.
Given the difficulty of its cultivation and the time required for its maturation, this spice is expensive compared to horseradish, a cousin easier to obtain.
The wasabi plant is used in the gastronomic world as a seasoning whose taste is extremely spicy.
In continuation, the main properties of wasabi are presented to relieve different disorders and ailments.
wasabi plant:
The wasabi is marketed in the form of paste packed in tubes, or powder, which usually comes in small cans. Anyway, wasabi pasta is usually horseradish, so if you want to get the real space you will have to buy it in powder.
The only way to know what you are buying is to read the labels. Japanese Wasabi powder can be found in the Asian trades and in the oriental products section of some supermarkets.
However, a Japanese label also does not guarantee that the product is actually wasabi. It is important to know that the genuine wasabi contains no mustard or horseradish or added coloring, but only wasabi.
Healing properties
These vegetables are packed with isothiocyanates (ITC), anticancer compounds, research shows. The unique wasabi ITCs are responsible for their characteristic itch that decongests the nasal passages, and may also be able to protect you against cancer.
Several preclinical, in vitro, and animal studies show that wasabi could be as effective against cancer as broccoli and other members of the crucifer family.
Breast cancer. Japanese researchers discovered that one of the ITCs presents in the wasabi could stop the growth of breast cancer cells in vitro and even destroy them. In conclusion, the scientists noted that the ITC in question “is a new potential candidate for the control of cancer cells.” The results were published in the journal Cancer Detection and Prevention.
Metastasis. Metastasis is the displacement of cancer cells from the initial tumor to other areas of the body. Well, Japanese scientists who injected skin cancer cells into the lungs of laboratory animals found that pre-treatment with one of the wasabi’s ITC disrupted the proliferation of these cells by 82 percent. “It appears that wasabi not only inhibits tumor proliferation but also cancer metastasis,” the researchers wrote in the journal Cancer Detection and Prevention. And they concluded by stating that “wasabi is apparently a useful dietary candidate for controlling tumor progression.”
Stomach cancer. In another Japanese study, researchers induced stomach cancer in experimental animals and divided them into two groups, one of which received wasabi. Well, the group that did not take wasabi developed a number of tumors four times greater than the group treated with wasabi. Stomach cancer “was inhibited by the administration of wasabi,” the researchers wrote in the journal Nutrition and Cancer.
Colon cancer. A team of scientists at Michigan State University found in in vitro research that various wasabi components inhibited the growth of colon cancer cells by up to 68 percent; Those of lung cancer, up to 71 percent, and those of stomach cancer, up to 44 percent.
Leukemia. Japanese researchers observed that wasabi could stop the proliferation of leukemia cells and concluded in conclusion that the spice is “potentially useful as a natural anticancer agent.”
There are many other ways in which this Japanese spice can protect your health:
Food poisoning. Several studies have shown that wasabi is a natural protection against E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus, bacteria responsible for food poisoning (in fact, wasabi was introduced in Japanese cuisine to reduce the risk of intoxication from raw fish intake ).
Ulcers . The bacterium Helicobacter pylori are responsible for most stomach ulcers and a persistent infection of this bacterium increases the risk of stomach cancer. Well, several studies have shown that ITC and other wasabi compounds are capable of destroying this bacterium.
High cholesterol. Australian researchers discovered in an animal experiment that wasabi could lower “bad” LDL cholesterol and increase “good” HDL cholesterol.
Decay. Japanese scientists observed that wasabi CTIs inhibited the proliferation of bacteria responsible for dental caries.
Blood clots. One group of researchers isolated an ITC from wasabi that was ten times more potent than aspirin in preventing blood clots, which can clog arteries and cause a heart attack or stroke.
Osteoporosis . It has been observed that some wasabi compounds can increase bone density.
Eczema (atopic dermatitis). A wasabi extract was able to decrease scratching behavior in animals raised to develop symptoms related to this disease. In addition, the immune components that cause itching and inflammation also decreased. The findings were published in the Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology.
Popular remedies with wasabi plant:
Remedy with wasabi for sinusitis Mix 1 teaspoon of wasabi with 1 tablespoon of water to form a paste and place in the sinuses. Its odor will help uncover the nose in case of sinusitis or flu.
Mix with wasabi for the flu Mix 1 teaspoon of wasabi, 1 teaspoon root of ginger powder and a little of water to obtain a paste and consume 1/2 teaspoon. This remedy helps clear the upper airways.
Remedy with wasabi to prevent cancer: Mix 1 tablespoon of wasabi with water to form a paste to be added to the salads. Consume 3 times a week.
Remedy with wasabi to combat tartar or bacterial plaque Pour in 1/2 glass of water 1 teaspoon of wasabi powder and a dash of lemon juice. Mix and gargle after the meal.
Preventive Remedy for Blood Clots: Consume, daily, 1/2 teaspoon of wasabi in any meal of the day.
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