Watercress Is a Cruciferous Vegetable Watercress is part of the cruciferous family of vegetables. A diet high in cruciferous vegetables may benefit heart health.
What food group is watercress?
fruit and vegetable food group
Watercress is part of the fruit and vegetable food group, with 80g (one cereal bowl full) providing one of the ‘at least five a day’ portions recommended by the Department of Health to help reduce the risk of some cancers, cardiovascular disease and many other chronic conditions.
Is watercress a healthy food?
Eating watercress can help support the health of your heart. Antioxidants (carotenoids in particular) have been linked to lower blood pressure, lower risk of heart disease, and even a lower risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Is water cress a vegetable?
Watercress or yellowcress (Nasturtium officinale) is a species of aquatic flowering plant in the cabbage family Brassicaceae.
Is watercress in the lettuce family?
Watercress (Nasturtium officinale), which is sometimes also called yellowcress, or simply cress, is a cruciferous vegetable in the family Brassicaceae, which also includes broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, turnips and Brussels sprouts, as well as kale, mustard greens and collard greens.
What type of vegetable is watercress?
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 ( 1 ).
What family is watercress a part of?
mustard family
Watercress is a member of the mustard family, which includes many well-known leafy and tuberous vegetables such as collard greens, kale, turnips, and radishes, as well as many problematic weeds such as garlic mustard.
Which is healthier spinach or watercress?
Spinach is richer not only in vitamins but in minerals as well. Spinach has 15 times more iron, five times more zinc, and nearly four times more magnesium than watercress. Spinach is also richer in potassium, copper and contains higher levels of sodium.
Can I eat watercress every day?
You can eat watercress everyday and, as watercress is sold in all supermarkets, it’s easy to get your nutritional top-up! Watercress (nasturtium officinale) is a superfood; we already know that watercress is rich in vitamins, containing over 50 vital vitamins and minerals.
Which is healthier kale or watercress?
Watercress scores a whopping 1000 on the scale putting it in joint first place with kale, right at the top of the crops and way ahead of blueberries, edamame, broccoli and spinach.
Is watercress healthier than lettuce?
Lettuce contains more dietary fibers than watercress (2.4 and 0.5 g of fiber per 100 g of lettuce and watercress, respectively) and this might partly explain the lower glycemic response observed after consuming a meal with lettuce compared to watercress.
Is there another name for watercress?
watercress, (Nasturtium officinale), also called cress, perennial aquatic plant of the mustard family (Brassicaceae), native to Eurasia and naturalized throughout North America. Watercress thrives in cool flowing streams, where it grows submerged, floating on the water, or spread over mud surfaces.
Are cress a fruit or vegetable?
Cress (Lepidium sativum), sometimes referred to as garden cress (or curly cress) to distinguish it from similar plants also referred to as cress (from old Germanic cresso which means sharp, spicy), is a rather fast-growing, edible herb. L.
What are the side effects of eating watercress?
There are no known side effects of watercress at routine doses.
Is watercress a cabbage?
Watercress is a cruciferous plant, part of the same family as Broccoli, Cabbage, Brussel Sprouts and Wasabi. The botanical name for watercress is nasturtium officinale.
Is watercress good for weight loss?
It has benefits for weight management and weight loss as well. One cup of watercress has minimal calories but is full of essential nutrients like vitamins and micronutrients. Low-calorie vegetables are highly effective for weight loss, and you should add them to your diet.
Is watercress healthier cooked or raw?
Vitamin B is another water-soluble vitamin present in high levels in watercress and this too is reduced when watercress is cooked, while minerals like potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc may be reduced by up to 60 to 70%. All this suggests it’s best to eat watercress uncooked.
Is watercress good for kidneys?
Watercress is suitable for all ages, except for those with kidney stones or who are at risk of kidney stones. This is because watercress contains a lot of oxalates, compounds that can cause stones to form. For this reason, it’s important not to eat too much watercress, or ask a health professional for advice.
Is watercress good for inflammation?
The watercress nutrition profile is low in calories yet high in fiber and vitamins A, K and C. It’s been linked to a number of health benefits and could potentially help protect against certain types of cancer, reduce blood pressure, decrease inflammation and promote bone health.
Is watercress like spinach?
Watercress has a spicier taste than spinach or kale but can be used in similar ways. Make a salad using all watercress or a mix of watercress and other greens. Add watercress to sandwiches or puree it into creamy soups.
Is cress a type of cabbage?
Land Cress (Barbarea vulgaris) and American Upland Cress (Barbarea verna) are biennial, edible leafy-green vegetables from the Brassicaceae (cabbage) family. The young leaves, which are spicy in flavour, are often used as a substitute for watercress in dishes, and can be cooked, or used fresh in salads and sandwiches.