4 health benefits of watercress!

Watercress is a popular European green leafy herb that grows along water streams. It has a faint peppery flavor, and has been used in ancient times for medicinal uses in Europe, Central Asia, and the Americas. It is closely related to mustard, watercress , kale and arugula.

1. Contains more vitamin C than some fruits and vegetables:

You can get over 72% of your vitamin C daily from just 100 grams of watercress leaves .

Vitamin C helps scavenge free radicals and reactive oxygen species. Vitamin C not only helps boost your immunity against infection, it also helps prevent iron deficiency anemia, and helps maintain healthy bones and keep your skin smooth and radiant.

2. It is one of the best plant sources of vitamin K:

Just 100 grams of watercress leaves will let you absorb over 200% of your recommended daily amount of vitamin K ! Vitamin K is important for bone health, promoting bone strength and formation. Vitamin K also reduces the amount of neuronal damage in the brain and thus has been used in the treatment of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

3. Vitamin A: 

It is important for skin, eye, bone, hair and nail health is a fat-soluble vitamin that is stored in our liver.

Vitamin A acts as an antioxidant in our bodies, however, it is the carotenes (i.e. alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, the precursors of vitamin A) in watercress that can be turned into vitamin A or turned into antioxidants (the body makes this one is very smart and will turn the plant’s carotenes into vitamin A only if your body needs it.

The rest will work in your bloodstream as antioxidants. so you really can’t overdo it with carotenes). Watercress is particularly rich in vitamin A with 100g of leaves providing you with 70% of your RDA of vitamin A.

4. It is rich in B vitamins: 

It helps relieve stress , treat anxiety and depression , aid memory and relieve PMS. Some B vitamins also help cells burn fat and glucose for energy, while others help produce serotonin (the feel-good neurotransmitter created in our brain). Not only do the B vitamins do all of the above, they also help with DNA production and repair!

Glucosinolates in watercress help boost and regulate the activity of detoxification enzymes in the liver. When consumed, glucosinolates are converted in watercress into isothiocyanates, which then have the ability to inhibit tumorigenesis by modulating the metabolism of carcinogens. This effect found to have an even stronger impact when consuming watercress that has not been cooked.

As an anti-inflammatory, watercress has been used to treat eczema, acne, and other skin conditions (again, we can thank vitamin A and C here). It can also be used as a liver tonic to help aid your liver in the detoxification process. It’s also interesting to note that watercress is (in terms of calories) 85% protein, making it a great source of plant-based protein.

Next time you make a green smoothie, or a salad, add in some watercress to pack in some of the amazing benefits listed above! Your body will love you for it!