Know2eat

Horseradish

Armoracia rusticana

What horseradish has been studied for

2 associations assessed — 1 with at least some human evidence behind it. Strongest first.

  • 1 Limited
  • 1 Insufficient
4 things to know first — allergies, interactions and intake limits

About horseradish

The pungent taproot of a brassica, grated and stabilised in vinegar and salt — the form the USDA entry describes. The heat comes from allyl isothiocyanate, which only forms once the root is cut and which fades quickly, which is why the vinegar is added to stop the reaction where the maker wants it.

Also known as horseradish, prepared horseradish, grated horseradish, chrain

Kidney & Urinary HealthRespiratory Health

The evidence in depth

Best supported: Limited

What each association actually rests on, and the papers behind it. A rating describes the state of the research, not how impressive the food is. How we rate evidence.

Kidney and urinary function

Kidney & Urinary Health
Limited evidence

A fixed herbal medicine combining horseradish root with nasturtium has been studied in Germany for recurrent urinary tract infections, with some trials and observational series reporting fewer recurrences. The preparation is a licensed tablet at a defined dose, horseradish is never tested alone, and the studies are mostly small or uncontrolled.

Limited evidence. Early human work, or mostly lab and animal research.

2 sources

Deep research mode adds each paper’s own conclusion and stated limitations.

Respiratory function

Respiratory Health
Insufficient evidence

Horseradish is an old remedy for blocked sinuses, and the sensation of clearing is real enough — it is an irritant reflex, not a measured change in airway function. No trial has tested it against a respiratory outcome.

Insufficient evidence. Not enough human research to say anything useful yet.

1 source

Deep research mode adds each paper’s own conclusion and stated limitations.

Ask about Horseradish

Ask about Horseradish

Answers are written only from the entries on this page — the same nutrients, compounds, claims and citations you can read above. Nothing is added from outside the database, and every answer lists what it was built from.

AI explanations are not switched on for this site, so there is nothing to ask here. Everything above is read straight from the database and does not need them.

Key nutrients

Nutrient content per 100 grams
NutrientAmount% DV
Macronutrients
Calories48 kcal2%
Protein1.18 g2%
Total fat0.69 g1%
Carbohydrate11.3 g4%
Fibre3.3 g12%
Total sugars7.99 g—
Water85.1 g—
Fats
Saturated fat0.09 g0%
Monounsaturated fat0.13 g—
Polyunsaturated fat0.339 g—
Cholesterol0 mg0%
EPA (omega-3)0 g—
DHA (omega-3)0 g—
DPA (omega-3)0 g—
Linoleic acid (omega-6)0.285 g—
Vitamins
Vitamin A0 µg0%
Vitamin C24.9 mg28%
Vitamin D0 µg0%
Vitamin E0.01 mg0%
Vitamin K1.3 µg1%
Thiamin (B1)0.0080 mg1%
Riboflavin (B2)0.024 mg2%
Niacin (B3)0.386 mg2%
Pantothenic acid (B5)0.093 mg2%
Vitamin B60.073 mg4%
Folate57 µg14%
Vitamin B120 µg0%
Choline6.5 mg1%
Minerals
Calcium56 mg4%
Iron0.42 mg2%
Magnesium27 mg6%
Phosphorus31 mg2%
Potassium246 mg5%
Sodium420 mg18%
Zinc0.83 mg8%
Copper0.058 mg6%
Manganese0.126 mg5%
Selenium2.8 µg5%
Other measured compounds
Beta-carotene1 µg—
Alpha-carotene0 µg—
Lycopene0 µg—
Lutein + zeaxanthin10 µg—
Caffeine0 mg—
Ash1.76 g—

Nutrient values are per 100 g of the USDA reference entry named on this page and vary with variety, growing conditions, storage and preparation.

Source record: Horseradish, prepared (USDA FoodData Central, FDC ID 173472).

% DV uses the FDA Daily Values for adults and children aged 4 and over. A dash means no Daily Value has been established for that nutrient.

Bioactive compounds

Compounds present in meaningful amounts. Presence is banded rather than quantified, because whole-food levels vary enormously with variety, growing conditions, storage and preparation.

How preparation changes things

Only effects with real support are listed. If a preparation method is missing, it is because nothing dependable is documented — not because it makes no difference.

  • crushedIncreases allyl isothiocyanate formation

    Intact root is almost odourless. Grating ruptures the cells and lets myrosinase convert sinigrin into allyl isothiocyanate within minutes; the compound is volatile, so grated horseradish loses its heat fast unless acid is added to hold it.

Things to know

Allergies, interactions and intake concerns. Every food gets this section — a reference where everything is uniformly good is not a reference.

  • Too much

    A potent irritant to eyes, airways and gut

    Allyl isothiocyanate is a strong irritant — the same compound behind the burn of mustard and wasabi. A large mouthful causes intense burning, tearing and coughing, and repeated high intake can irritate the stomach lining. Medicinal horseradish preparations are conventionally avoided by people with active peptic ulcers or inflammatory gut disease.

  • Worth knowing

    Not recommended for young children or in kidney disease

    German herbal monographs contraindicate medicinal horseradish preparations in children under four and in people with impaired kidney function, on the basis of its irritant properties rather than trial data.

  • Worth knowing

    The prepared condiment brings vinegar and salt

    Prepared horseradish is grated root suspended in vinegar with salt, and creamed versions add oil, sugar or dairy. Wasabi sold outside Japan is also usually horseradish with mustard and colouring rather than true wasabi.

  • Worth knowing

    Goitrogenic potential at high sustained intake

    Like other brassica glucosinolates, those in horseradish can interfere with thyroid iodine uptake at high intakes, which matters mainly where iodine intake is already low.