Wendell Smith

7 Health Benefits Of Watercress

Article
Bone, Muscle, & Joint
Heart & Vascular Health
+4
Contributed byKrish Tangella MD, MBANov 11, 2021

Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) is a semi-aquatic plant native to Europe and Asia. It is currently a member of the family Brassicaceae, botanically related to cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, turnip, rapeseed, mustard, radish, horseradish, cress, and wasabi.

Here are 7 health benefits of watercress.

1.     Watercress can help improve bone health.

One cup of watercress contains 85 micrograms or 106 percent of vitamin K. Vitamin K improves calcium absorption, reduces urinary excretion of calcium, and acts as a modifier of bone matrix proteins. Also, one cup of watercress contains 4 percent of your calcium needs.

2.     Watercress can help individuals fight infections.

One cup of watercress contains 24 percent of the vitamin C daily requirements per cup. Vitamin C is a potent natural water-soluble antioxidant that helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents.

3.     Watercress is great for the hair and skin.

Adequate vitamin C intake can create and maintain collagen, an important protein found in hair and skin. Also, one cup of watercress contains 22 percent of recommended vitamin A. Vitamin A has been known to keep the hair moisturized through increased sebum production.

4.     Watercress can help progress your heart’s health.

Fiber, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and potassium have been known to improve your heart’s health. Watercress has significant potassium to sodium ratio. One cup of watercress contains 112 milligrams of potassium compared to 13.9 milligrams of sodium. The recommended 4,700 milligrams (mg) of potassium is not obtained by many individuals in the United States, according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, despite the benefits of increased potassium intake.

5.     Watercress can enhance blood pressure health.

An increased potassium intake and decreased sodium intake has been linked to a lowered blood pressure and relaxed blood vessels.

6.     Watercress may help fight against breast cancer.

A 2010 study conducted by the University of Southampton found that consumption of watercress may inhibit the growth of breast cancer by 'turning off' a signal in the body and thereby starving the growing tumor of essential blood and oxygen.

7.     Watercress contains a significant amount of omega-3 fatty acids.

Watercress is a significant source of omega-3 fatty acids primarily in the form of hexadecatrienoic acid at 45mg/100g. This can help the body fight cancer and inflammation.

Was this article helpful

On the Article

Krish Tangella MD, MBA picture
Approved by

Krish Tangella MD, MBA

Pathology, Medical Editorial Board, DoveMed Team

0 Comments

Please log in to post a comment.

Related Articles

Test Your Knowledge

Asked by users

Related Centers

Loading

Related Specialties

Loading card

Related Physicians

Related Procedures

Related Resources

Join DoveHubs

and connect with fellow professionals

Related Directories

Who we are

At DoveMed, our utmost priority is your well-being. We are an online medical resource dedicated to providing you with accurate and up-to-date information on a wide range of medical topics. But we're more than just an information hub - we genuinely care about your health journey. That's why we offer a variety of products tailored for both healthcare consumers and professionals, because we believe in empowering everyone involved in the care process.
Our mission is to create a user-friendly healthcare technology portal that helps you make better decisions about your overall health and well-being. We understand that navigating the complexities of healthcare can be overwhelming, so we strive to be a reliable and compassionate companion on your path to wellness.
As an impartial and trusted online resource, we connect healthcare seekers, physicians, and hospitals in a marketplace that promotes a higher quality, easy-to-use healthcare experience. You can trust that our content is unbiased and impartial, as it is trusted by physicians, researchers, and university professors around the globe. Importantly, we are not influenced or owned by any pharmaceutical, medical, or media companies. At DoveMed, we are a group of passionate individuals who deeply care about improving health and wellness for people everywhere. Your well-being is at the heart of everything we do.

© 2023 DoveMed. All rights reserved. It is not the intention of DoveMed to provide specific medical advice. DoveMed urges its users to consult a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis and answers to their personal medical questions. Always call 911 (or your local emergency number) if you have a medical emergency!