Nutrition & Health

What's so special about watercress? This series of pages aims to provide the answers. Watercress is a very underrated vegetable. It is a good source of many important nutrients such as vitamin C, calcium, iron and folate. We will summarise the role of these vital substances and show just how valuable watercress is in contributing to our daily requirements for them.

> Watercress: The Original King of the Greens <

Watercress is packed with a wide range of natural, bioactive plant compounds (phytochemicals) for which there is increasing evidence for beneficial effects on human health. These include antioxidants such as… [cont]

> Our Watercress Health Claims Journey <

Raw watercress is rich in vitamins A (as beta carotene), vitamin C and vitamin K1, and is a source of folate, vitamin B6, calcium, chloride, manganese and potassium. These nutrients contribute to normal physiological… [cont]

> Nutritional Composition of Watercress <

Watercress is part of the Cruciferae or Brassicaceae family, meaning it is related to other vegetables like cabbage, brussel sprouts, broccoli, rocket, cauliflower and radish. Cultivated in pure spring water, its health benefits… [cont]

> Phytochemicals and Antioxidants <

What are phytochemicals and what is their function? In addition to nutrients, watercress is a rich source of a variety of phytochemicals. Those most clearly identified include glucosinolate derivatives such as phenylethyl… [cont]

> Watercress and Influence on the Epigenome <

DNA contains the genetic code of organisms, like a recipe book, that holds the instructions for making all the proteins in our bodies. The DNA molecule itself contains a huge amount of information absolutely critical… [cont]

> Supporting Skin Health with Watercress <

How can watercress help with skin ageing? Our skin is made up of two layers, the epidermis which is the upper layer and the dermis, the lower layer. There are two factors that describe skin ageing, intrinsic & extrinsic… [cont]

> How Watercress Can Help Prevent Damage During Exercise <

How does our body react to exercise and how can our diet help? Researchers are increasingly interested in the relationship between diet, naturally occurring antioxidants and exercise because intense physical… [cont]

> How Do Carotenoids Support Eye Health? <

Raw watercress contains many nutrients associated with eye health. It is rich in vitamin A (as β-carotene) that contributes to the normal functioning of our eyes, plus it contains the additional carotenoids lutein… [cont]

> How Can Watercress Support Cardio Health & Reduce Blood Pressure? <

Like beetroot, watercress contains natural nitrates. When chewed in the mouth these are converted by beneficial bacteria to nitrites and once in the stomach to gaseous nitrogen which enters the bloodstream dilating… [cont]

> Is Watercress Good For Your Gut? <

Our gut microbiota, the trillions of bacteria present in our large intestine, are now known to be pivotal in our health. With more than 3 million genes between them (our gut microbiome), compared to our own 20,000… [cont]

> How Watercress Can Support Lifecycle Nutrition <

The mix of nutrients and phytochemicals found in watercress make it a valuable food that can help to support the body's natural defences and contribute to health and well-being throughout life. As a salad vegetable… [cont]

> Phase II Detoxification: A Scientific Review <

We are constantly exposed to external, chemical stressors. These potential toxins, including pollutants, radiation, chemotherapy and smoke inhalation, along with our own internal chemical mediators of prolonged… [cont]

> Vitamin C, Watercress & Its Importance To Health <

Our bodies rely on Vitamin C to support our immune system, blood vessels, teeth, hair, skin, bones and nervous system; on top of this, our cells depend on it to convert fat to energy throughout the day. Unlike plants and… [cont]

> Watercress & Sport Performance <

There is mounting evidence for the consumption of nutrients being beneficial for sports performance. This includes for enhanced recovery post exercise and the maintenance of an optimal immune system, often… [cont]

> Could Watercress Extract Be The Answer To Eczema? <

Exciting new research suggests that watercress extract from fresh watercress has anti-inflammatory properties for potential use in treating inflamed human skin. Further work is required to refine the optimal… [cont]