Watercress is related to the mustard plant and radish, and is at its seasonal best from April to October.
Where can watercress be found?
Watercress is commonly found in cold, alkaline waters of springs, spring runs, and similar streams throughout the State of Missouri, as well as the majority of the North American continent. Watercress is also distributed worldwide.
When should I cut watercress?
Harvesting watercress
Watercress leaves can be harvested from about 21 days after they emerge, and if you cut or prune the plant back to about 4 inches it will encourage thicker, lusher growth. Harvest the watercress using scissors and it will then grow back at least once.
What is the common 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.
Is watercress a herb or vegetable?
Watercress Is a Cruciferous Vegetable
Watercress is part of the cruciferous family of vegetables.
What does watercress do for the body?
Watercress is also rich in vitamin C, which supports your immune system, helps you heal from injuries, and supports healthy collagen production. Watercress is full of beta-carotene and other carotenoids, which are known for being potent antioxidants.
Is it safe to eat raw watercress?
Yes, absolutely – in fact watercress is best eaten raw. When the rest of us would be snacking on a biscuit, watercress growers are often seen wandering the farm chewing on fresh, uncooked watercress, and my, what a healthy bunch they are! In Victorian times watercress was regarded as an essential staple.
What is the best season for watercress?
While the stalks give watercress more bite, with a surprising snap and crunch, the peppery aftertaste makes this one of the strongest-tasting salad leaves around. Watercress is related to the mustard plant and radish, and is at its seasonal best from April to October.
Should watercress be eaten raw or cooked?
A : Watercress is best eaten raw as it loses a proportion of its health benefits when cooked. However, watercress is also a useful ingredient when used in cooked dishes as it adds a unique flavour to soups, stews and stir fries and does retain a proportion of its fantastic properties.
Does watercress need to be washed?
Always wash your watercress in cold water before eating, especially if it was touching the water. Immersing the cress in cold water also refreshes it and makes it come back to life, an important trick to have around if it was purchased or a bit wilted.
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.
Where is the watercress capital of the world today?
In the United States, Huntsville, Alabama, calls itself the watercress capital of the world. Serving for serving, watercress contains more iron than spinach, more calcium than milk and three times the vitamin E as lettuce.
What part of watercress do you eat?
The entire watercress plant is edible – leaves, stalks and even the flowers. Only the roots are best discarded as they don’t taste great! Everything else can be eaten raw or added to your favourite dish to add that classic peppery flavour.
What are the side effects of eating watercress?
There are no known side effects of watercress at routine doses.
Is it safe to eat watercress everyday?
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.
Is watercress good for your liver?
Cruciferous vegetables (think: broccoli, cauliflower, kale, chard, mustard and collard greens, bok choy, watercress, horseradish, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts) support the liver’s ability to detoxify the many less-than-healthy things we come into contact with (hello breathing, eating, and drinking) every day.
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.
Is watercress good for arthritis?
Some people apply watercress directly to the skin for arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, earache, eczema, scabies, and warts. In foods, watercress is widely used in leaf salads and as a culinary spice.
Does watercress make you sleepy?
Watercress. Another key to good sleep: calcium. “Research shows that calcium-rich foods can aid in sleep, as it helps the brain to properly utilize tryptophan” and make melatonin, says Elkin. She suggests snacking on watercress, which has about 120 milligrams of calcium per 100 gram serving.
Should you keep watercress in the fridge?
To keep watercress fresh for up to 5 days, store it in the refrigerator in a deep bowl, upside-down with the stems submerged in cold water and the leafy tops covered with a plastic bag. Drain well before using. When a recipe calls for watercress tops, simply break the delicate leaves off the thick center stalks.
Does watercress detox your body?
Like most green herbs and vegetables, watercress is an excellent health booster and detox food. Firstly, watercress leaves are packed with many vital detoxifying nutrients, including several B vitamins, zinc, potassium, vitamin E and vitamin C.