12Health Benefits of

Watercress

Watercress is a dark, leafy green grown in natural spring water.

For the past few decades, watercress has been used as little more than a plate garnish but is now seeing resurgence in popularity as one of the next big superfoods.

Watercress has plenty of health benefits. However, due to its strong, pungent and bitter taste, it is never used alone, but is always added to juices, salads or other dishes as an ingredient, flavor or garnish.

Here are

12Health Benefits of

Watercress

1 Anti-Cancer Benefits

1 Anti-Cancer Benefits

Cruciferous vegetables, such as watercress and broccoli, are

well known for containing glucosinolates, phytochemicals that

are hydrolyzed to produce isothiocyanates, which have been

studied for their anticancer effects.

Dietary intake of these compounds has been shown to counter

breast, lung, colorectal, head and neck, and prostate cancers.

2 Cardiovascular Benefits

2 Cardiovascular Benefits

Watercress contains vitamin C which works as an antioxidant

and help in reducing heart tissue damage caused by oxidative

stress.

Vitamin C is active in the process of embryonic cells developing

into cardiac myocyctes and improving heart health.

3 Weight Loss Benefits

3 Weight Loss Benefits

Even for individuals suffering from diabetes, cardiovascular

diseases, or hypertension, watercress diet may help lose

weight, maintain ideal weight, and help individuals feel satiated

for longer.

With dietary fiber and essential amino acids, watercress for

weight loss may help individuals stay full longer.

4 Thyroid Health

4 Thyroid Health

Watercress is a member of the brassica family of cruciferous

vegetable which has shown beneficial effect in thyroid health.

Watercress like other brassica’s may work by reducing thyroid

hormone production and are most beneficial when eaten raw.

5 Healthy Bones

5 Healthy Bones

Low intakes of vitamin K have been associated with a higher

risk for bone fracture. Adequate vitamin K consumption

improves bone health by acting as a modifier of bone matrix

proteins, improving calcium absorption and reducing urinary

excretion of calcium.

Eating just one cup of watercress would meet your daily need

for vitamin K.

6 Anti-Anemic Effect

6 Anti-Anemic Effect

Watercress is particularly helpful in treating different types of

anemia due to its high content in iron.

Iron is essential for the synthesis of hemoglobin, and folic acid,

which plays a key role in the maturation of red cells in the bone

marrow.

7 Antidepressant Effect

7 Antidepressant Effect

Folate works with the neurotransmitters pathways of the central

nervous system effecting production of such neurochemical

such as serotonin.

With depression affecting a significant percentage of the world

populations the addition of foods with high folate content such

as watercress is an important dietary supplement in reducing

risk of this chronic disease.

8 Skin Care Benefits

8 Skin Care Benefits

Consuming watercress in the form of salads or soups and as a

garnish on main courses may help to keep eczema and similar

skin conditions at bay.

As an antioxidant, watercress for acne and eczema helps to

promote better skin health, and it may even help reduce the risk

of certain types of skin cancer.

9 Aphrodisiac Effect

9 Aphrodisiac Effect

Several historical sources show that watercress has been used

for its aphrodisiac effect since the age of the ancient Romans

and Persians.

This could be due to its high zinc and iron content.

10 Fights Common Cold

10 Fights Common Cold

Vitamin C rich food is an effective remedy of common cold. A

study on this the immune protective ability of vitamin C shows

that consuming food rich in vitamin C may reduce the risk of

cold by 66 %.

Watercress is a good source of vitamin C and its intake may

help in reducing risk of cold.

11 Hair Health Benefits

11 Hair Health Benefits

Vital nutrients such as vitamins and minerals in watercress help

to promote scalp and hair health.

Applying watercress juice may also aid hair growth. Watercress

also improves hormonal balance and function, which, in turn,

promotes the growth of hair and is necessary for healthy skin.

12 Helps Relieve Pediatric Asthma

12 Helps Relieve Pediatric Asthma

A study on children with asthma’s showed results of

significantly increased forced expiratory volume expiratory

(FEV) with vitamin C of at least 0.2g daily.

Intake of food such as watercress may provide relief from

pediatric asthma.

12Health Benefits of

Watercress

For more information: 12 Health Benefits of Watercress - Selfcarer