10 Impressive Health Benefits of Watercress

From http://www.healthline.com

Watercress is an often overlooked leafy green that packs a powerful nutrient punch.

Its small, round leaves and edible stems have a peppery, slightly spicy flavor.

Watercress is part of the Brassicaceae family of vegetables, which also includes kale, Brussels sprouts and cabbage (1Trusted Source).

Once considered a weed, it was first cultivated in the UK in the early 1800s but is now grown in watery beds throughout the world.

Here are 10 impressive health benefits of watercress.

1. Packed with Nutrients, Particularly Vitamin K

Watercress is low in calories but packs a vast array of nutrients.

Nutrient density is a measure of the nutrients a food contains in relation to how many calories it provides. Therefore, watercress is an extremely nutrient-dense food.

In fact, it’s ranked number one on the US Centers for Disease Control’s Powerhouse Fruits and Vegetables list (2Trusted Source).

One cup (34 grams) of watercress contains the following (3):

Calories: 4
Carbs: 0.4 grams
Protein: 0.8 grams
Fat: 0 grams
Fiber: 0.2 grams
Vitamin A: 22% of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI)
Vitamin C: 24% of the RDI
Vitamin K: 106% of the RDI
Calcium: 4% of the RDI
Manganese: 4% of the RDI
As you can see, one cup (34 grams) of watercress provides over 100% of the RDI for vitamin K, a fat-soluble vitamin necessary for blood clotting and healthy bones (4Trusted Source).

Watercress also contains small amounts of vitamin E, thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin B6, folate, pantothenic acid, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and copper (3).

SUMMARY
Watercress boasts many important vitamins and minerals, including over 100% of the RDI for vitamin K.

2. High Antioxidant Content May Lower Your Risk of Chronic Diseases
   Watercress is packed with plant compounds called antioxidants that protect against cell damage caused by free radicals, which are harmful molecules that lead to oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress has been associated with several chronic illnesses including diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease (5Trusted Source).

Fortunately, diets high in antioxidant-rich foods like watercress can help protect against oxidative stress, which may lower your risk of these diseases.

One study on the antioxidant compounds in 12 different cruciferous vegetables found over 40 unique flavonoids, a type of plant chemical, in watercress (1Trusted Source).

In fact, watercress outperformed all other vegetables in this study in terms of total amount of phenols and the ability to neutralize free radicals (1Trusted Source).

What’s more, studies have linked the antioxidants in watercress to a lower risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease (6Trusted Source, 7Trusted Source).

SUMMARY
Watercress is extremely high in antioxidants, which may help prevent chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease.

3. Contains Compounds That May Prevent Certain Types of Cancer
   Because watercress is high in phytochemicals, it may reduce your risk of developing certain types of cancer.

Watercress and other cruciferous vegetables contain glucosinolates, which are activated to compounds called isothiocyanates when they’re cut with a knife or chewed (8Trusted Source).

Isothiocyanates include chemicals such as sulforaphane and phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) (9Trusted Source, 10Trusted Source).

These compounds protect against cancer by safeguarding healthy cells from damage, inactivating carcinogenic chemicals and blocking the growth and spread of tumors (11Trusted Source, 12Trusted Source, 13Trusted Source).

Isothiocyanates found in watercress have been shown to prevent colon, lung, prostate and skin cancers (9Trusted Source, 10Trusted Source, 14Trusted Source, 15Trusted Source).

Additionally, research demonstrates that the isothiocyanates and sulforaphane found in watercress suppress the growth of breast cancer cells (16Trusted Source, 17Trusted Source).

SUMMARY
Watercress contains potent anticancer compounds called isothiocyanates that have been shown to ward off several types of cancer.

4. Beneficial for Heart Health in Many Impressive Ways
   Eating watercress may be beneficial for heart health in several different ways.

Watercress Is a Cruciferous Vegetable

Watercress is part of the cruciferous family of vegetables. A diet high in cruciferous vegetables may benefit heart health.

A review of studies in over 500,000 individuals linked eating cruciferous vegetables to a 16% reduced risk of heart disease (18Trusted Source).

Antioxidants Improve Heart Health

Watercress contains the antioxidants beta carotene, zeaxanthin and lutein. Low levels of these carotenoids are associated with heart disease and high blood pressure (19Trusted Source).

Studies have shown that high levels of carotenoids not only protect against the development of heart disease but also lower your risk of heart attack and strokes (20Trusted Source).

Dietary Nitrates Boost Blood Vessel Health

Watercress also contains dietary nitrates, which boost blood vessel health by reducing inflammation and decreasing the stiffness and thickness of your blood vessels (21Trusted Source).

Dietary nitrates have also been shown to lower blood pressure by increasing nitric oxide in your blood (22Trusted Source).

Watercress May Lower Cholesterol

Furthermore, watercress may help lower cholesterol, which can improve heart health.

In a 10-day study in rats with high cholesterol, treatment with watercress extract lowered total cholesterol by 34% and “bad” LDL cholesterol by 53% (23Trusted Source).

SUMMARY
Watercress has many potential benefits for heart health, including lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Diets high in cruciferous vegetables are linked to a lower risk of heart disease.

5. Mineral and Vitamin K Contents Protect Against Osteoporosis
   Watercress contains many minerals necessary for bone health, including calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus (3).

Though calcium is well-known for its effects on bone health, magnesium, vitamin K and potassium also play important roles (24Trusted Source).

A balanced diet high in nutrient-dense vegetables is correlated with a positive effect on bone health (24Trusted Source).

Additionally, one cup (34 grams) of watercress provides more than 100% of the RDI for vitamin K (3).

Vitamin K is a component of osteocalcin, a protein that makes up healthy bone tissue and helps regulate bone turnover (4Trusted Source, 25Trusted Source).

In one study, people with the highest intake of vitamin K were 35% less likely to experience a hip fracture than people with the lowest intake (26Trusted Source).

SUMMARY
Watercress contains many nutrients important for bone health, including over 100% of the RDI for vitamin K.

6. Boosts Immune Function Thanks to High Vitamin C Levels
   Watercress contains 15 mg of vitamin C per cup (34 grams), which is 20% of the RDI for women and 17% for men (3).

Vitamin C is renowned for its beneficial effects on immune health. Deficiency in vitamin C has been linked to decreased immune function and increased inflammation (27Trusted Source).

Vitamin C boosts your immune system by increasing the production of white blood cells that fight infections (28Trusted Source).

Though studies in the general population have not conclusively shown that vitamin C decreases your risk of the common cold, it does reduce the duration of symptoms by 8% (29Trusted Source).

SUMMARY
Watercress is a good source of vitamin C, which promotes a healthy immune system and reduces your risk of infection.

7. Nutrient Density May Aid Weight Loss
   Though it hasn’t been studied specifically, watercress may have benefits for weight management as well.

It’s an extremely nutrient-dense food — one cup (34 grams) contains only four calories but provides several important nutrients (3).

If you’re trying to lose weight, adding this nutritious, low-calorie vegetable to your diet is certainly worth a try.

SUMMARY
Watercress is a highly nutritious vegetable that can help fill you up for very few calories, which may aid weight loss.

8. Dietary Nitrates May Enhance Athletic Performance
   Vegetables in the Brassicaceae family contain high levels of dietary nitrates (30Trusted Source).

Nitrates are compounds found naturally in foods such as beets, radishes and leafy green vegetables like watercress (31Trusted Source).

They relax your blood vessels and increase the amount of nitric oxide in your blood, which may improve exercise performance (31Trusted Source).

What’s more, dietary nitrate lowers resting blood pressure and reduces the amount of oxygen needed during exercise, which may increase exercise tolerance (32Trusted Source).

Several studies on dietary nitrates from beets and other vegetables have demonstrated improved exercise performance in athletes (31Trusted Source).

However, a small study in healthy individuals taking 100 grams of watercress daily for seven days found that watercress increased carbon dioxide production during exercise, which may have a negative impact on performance (33Trusted Source).

While a considerable amount of research indicates that dietary nitrates may enhance exercise performance, conclusive evidence that watercress improves athletic performance is lacking.

SUMMARY
Watercress is a source of dietary nitrates, which have been linked to improved athletic performance. However, there are currently no studies on watercress that confirm these beneficial effects.

9. Rich in Carotenoids and Vitamin C, Which May Protect Eye Health
   Watercress contains lutein and zeaxanthin, which are antioxidant compounds in the carotenoid family.

Numerous studies have shown that lutein and zeaxanthin are essential for eye health (34Trusted Source).

In particular, they protect your eyes against damage from blue light (34Trusted Source).

Lutein and zeaxanthin have also been linked to a lower risk of developing age-related macular degeneration and cataracts (34Trusted Source).

Furthermore, the vitamin C in watercress is associated with a lower risk of developing cataracts as well (35Trusted Source).

SUMMARY
Watercress contains the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, which are essential for eye health. Watercress is also a good source of vitamin C, which may protect against cataracts.

10. Versatile Addition to Any Meal
    Watercress can be used in a wide variety of dishes.

However, to get the most benefits from its active antioxidant compounds, it’s best eaten raw or lightly steamed (36Trusted Source).

Here are some easy ways to add watercress to your diet:

Sprinkle it on your salad.
Stir it into your soup near the end of cooking.
Use it to replace lettuce in a sandwich.
Turn it into pesto by blending it with garlic and olive oil.
Serve it with eggs.
Use it to top any dish.
SUMMARY
Watercress is a versatile addition to your meal routine. Eat it in a salad, soup or sandwich or use it to garnish any dish.

The Bottom Line

Watercress is a powerhouse vegetable that packs several important nutrients but is extremely low in calories.

It contains a plethora of antioxidants, which may lower your risk of heart disease and several types of cancer.

It’s also a good source of minerals that protect your bones.

Additionally, watercress makes a delicious addition to any meal and is a nice change from the usual lettuce or spinach.

Though watercress is hardly one of the most popular vegetables, its nutrition profile makes it a stellar addition to your diet.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/watercress-benefits#TOC_TITLE_HDR_12

Link to original article below.