Watercress, once a simple staple in finger sandwiches, continues to impress as a superfood. Here are a few more reasons why you should be adding this antioxidant powerhouse to your diet:
- Daily consumption of watercress results in a significant decrease in lymphocyte (white blood cell) DNA damage; DNA damage is an important event in cancer development.
- Watercress is a cruciferous vegetable, and population studies associate an increased intake of cruciferous vegetables with reduced risk of cancers at several sites, including the breast and prostate.
- Watercress is a rich source of the glucosinolate derivatives phenethyl isothiocyamate (PEITC) and methylsulphinylakyl isothiocyanates (MEITCs), which have a range of anticancer activities.
- Beneficial effects against the three key stages of carcinogenesis (initiation, proliferation, and metastasis) were observed in a study involving watercress extract and colon cancer cells.
How do you incorporate watercress into your diet?
Dr. Perricone
How much watercress should you eat? And if you can grow sprouts at home is that just as good? Thank you.
Hi Mary. Homegrown sprouts are fantastic for you. The more watercress the better. Shoot for at least one serving per day.