Research hailed watercress as the healthiest vegetable
Healthiest Vegetable – Watercress, a member of the cruciferous family, topped the charts of foods that offered the most health benefits relative to their calorie content.
Based on the article in The Healthy, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched a study to determine powerhouse foods that science has linked with a lower risk of chronic diseases. Surprisingly, the green leafy topped this with flying colors.
The research focused on 17 vital nutrients, including vitamins C, D, E, and K, and essential minerals such as calcium and potassium. Watercress is rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and potent antioxidants. It also offers more nutrition-per-calorie than most foods.
With this, you can have more significant health benefits for each bite of this vegetable you take. Aside from this, Julia Zumpano, RD, LD, a nutrition expert at Cleveland Clinic said that researchers are studying the potential of watercress in reducing smoking carcinogens, turning off breast cancer signals, and alleviating physical stress from workouts.
Research in 2021 stated that the healthiest vegetable may boost bone health, minimize DNA damage, and provide anti-cancer advantages. It was also said that this green leafy is rich in antioxidants and this means that it can fight oxidative stress, which is known for its bad role in aging and various chronic illnesses.
Amber Sommer, RD, LD, a dietician at Cleveland Clinic suggested that a person should have roughly 2.5 cups of vegetables daily if they don’t have particular health concerns (such as being on blood-thinning medications like warfarin). This diet includes cruciferous vegetables, like watercress, broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower.
“One cup of cooked or raw broccoli is one serving, but for the leafy greens, you want to go higher. About two cups of those make one serving,” Sommer suggested.