Watercress is useful against disorders of the Immune System, the Digestive System, the Heart and Circulatory System, the Respiratory System and the Urinary System.
Watercress is good for stomach, chest and urinary infections, food poisoning, anaemia and cancer protection.
Watercress is another member of the health promoting Cruciferae, and should be eaten regularly by those at risk of cancer. It is considered a Superfood by some as it contains more iron than spinach, more vitamin C than oranges and more calcium than milk. It’s rich in vitamins A, C and E, the powerful antioxidants that protects against cardiovascular disease as well as cancers.
Watercress also contains benzyl mustard oil - similar compounds give ‘bite’ to the related horseradish and radish - which is powerfully antibiotic. But unlike the pharmaceutical equivalents, they don’t kill off the good bugs in your intestines, making them valuable in the relief of chest and urinary infections.
When you chew or chop watercress an extraordinary substance is released which is specifically protective against lung cancer. Obviously, the best way to avoid this awful illness is to quit smoking, if you can’t kick the habit then make sure you eat two or three ounces of fresh watercress every day - you never know, it might just save your life.
Add all this to the fact that watercress is also a useful source of iodine - essential for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland - and you’ll understand why it isn’t just a garnish on top of the steak, but a nutritious, protective and important food which should be eaten in generous quantities by everybody.
Nutrients
Along with Nasturtiums, watercress contains a powerful antibiotic which is beneficial to our natural bacteria