Watercress is a delicious vegetable that is full of nutrients, antioxidants, and other benefits for your body. It also helps prevent heart disease and lowers your cholesterol levels. To get the most out of your watercress, make sure you eat it with other nutritious foods such as fruits, vegetables, and fish.
Reduces the risk of heart disease
There are many risk factors that contribute to heart disease, and they are all under your control. In fact, you might be surprised at how much you can change to reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
A low-fat, high-fibre diet, for example, may help lower your cholesterol levels. Likewise, a little bit of exercise can go a long way towards lowering your heart rate.
Other healthy habits include avoiding smoking and alcohol. Alcoholic drinks may raise blood pressure and increase your risk for cardiovascular disease. It’s also a good idea to maintain a healthy weight.
Those who are overweight or obese are at a higher risk for heart disease. Also, your body’s weight can be affected by the management of diabetes.
Amongst the numerous things you can do to prevent heart disease, one of the most important is to stay informed about the symptoms and causes. For example, your doctor will evaluate your medical history to determine which risk factors are relevant to your health and how they might be treated. They will also review your medications and recommend a treatment plan.
The best way to lower your risk of heart disease is to eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly and avoid smoking. If you’re having difficulty achieving these goals, talk to your healthcare provider. They can provide you with the information and the guidance you need to achieve your goal.
You can also use a website, such as the Heart Series Risk Assessment, to calculate your own risk of a heart attack in 10 years. While this isn’t a substitute for having your doctor perform a physical exam, it will give you a good idea of what’s most likely to happen and what you can do to make it happen.
Lowers cholesterol
Watercress is a low-calorie, nutrient-dense green. It’s also a good source of vitamin K, which is needed for bone health and blood clotting. In addition to these benefits, watercress is a good source of antioxidants, which may help reduce your risk of heart disease.
Studies have found that eating watercress can lower cholesterol levels. One study, for example, found that rats given watercress daily for 30 days experienced a reduction in triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL (bad) cholesterol. Aside from lowering these levels, watercress also showed a decrease in inflammation.
Studies have shown that people who eat more cruciferous vegetables have a lower risk of developing heart disease. Researchers have also determined that the phytochemicals present in these foods may reduce your risk of cancer. These include carotenoids, which reduce the damage done by free radicals.
Some of the compounds found in watercress are also known to prevent cancer, such as isothiocynates. Other studies have indicated that watercress may even help lower your risk of high blood pressure.
Research has also shown that watercress can promote a healthy immune system. This is because it contains significant amounts of vitamin C. Vitamin C helps your body produce more white blood cells, which are crucial to fighting infections. Additionally, your immune system can function better when it’s armed with plenty of antioxidants.
Watercress is also high in magnesium. Magnesium is a mineral that plays an important role in bone health. For example, it supports strong bones and prevents osteoporosis. Also, dietary magnesium can help relax blood vessels, allowing for smoother circulation.
Watercress can also help prevent the breakdown of collagen. This is a key component of your skin’s collagen, which keeps your skin looking young and fresh.
Helps reverse oxidative damage caused by the free radicals
Watercress is a leafy green vegetable with many nutritional benefits. It is packed with antioxidants and micro nutrients that protect cells and help to keep the body free of disease. As a result, this plant is classified as a superfood.
Vitamin C, for instance, plays an important role in keeping the immune system strong and functioning well. This vitamin helps produce more white blood cells, which can help fight infections. Additionally, vitamin K can help build strong bones.
In addition, watercress is also rich in dietary nitrates, which relax blood vessels and decrease resting blood pressure. These compounds can also improve exercise performance.
The antioxidants in watercress may help to reduce the risk of cancer. These compounds are known to be effective against both colon and breast cancers. Other studies have shown that the antioxidants found in watercress are associated with reduced glucose levels and insulin sensitivity.
Watercress also helps to prevent oxidative stress, which can lead to chronic diseases. Oxidative stress can cause damage to cells, and can increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and inflammatory disorders. Therefore, eating a variety of foods rich in antioxidants is important.
Studies have also shown that a diet rich in cruciferous vegetables can lower the risk of certain types of cancer. For example, a study showed that women who ate at least two servings of cruciferous vegetables each week were less likely to develop colon cancer than those who ate none.
Another study found that a diet rich in cruciferous foods may lower the risk of heart disease by 16 percent. It is also known to help improve the health of the eyes.
Promotes healthy bones
Watercress has many benefits for your body, including promoting healthy bones. This versatile leafy green is high in vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, and phytochemicals. These nutrients may help lower the risk of osteoporosis and other bone-related diseases.
As a cruciferous vegetable, watercress is rich in dietary nitrates. Nitrates relax blood vessels and reduce arterial stiffness. They also increase endothelial function and decrease platelet aggregation.
Vitamin K plays a major role in bone health. It is an important part of the protein called osteocalcin. Lack of vitamin K increases the risk of bone fractures.
Watercress also contains antioxidants, which can prevent free radical damage. In addition, it is a good source of vitamin C, which is necessary to maintain a healthy immune system. Calcium is also important for bones.
Watercress is rich in fiber and glucosinolates. The latter is a type of sulfur-containing compound. When eaten, glucosinolates stimulate the production of collagen, which supports tensile strength of healthy bones. Collagen also helps prevent fractures.
Another benefit of watercress is its ability to reduce inflammation. Studies have shown that watercress extract improves the immune response of broilers. Moreover, it can help lower triglycerides and bad cholesterol.
Watercress is also a good source of magnesium, potassium, and folate. Calcium and magnesium are important for maintaining healthy bones. Potassium helps regulate blood pressure and salt levels.
The antioxidants in watercress can also protect your cardiovascular system. Moreover, it may help fight cancer. A recent study shows that watercress may have anticancer effects.
Watercress is an excellent source of calcium, which is essential for the health of our bones. Furthermore, it is a good source of vitamins, including folic acid and Vitamin C.
Low in calories
Watercress is a leafy green vegetable that has a peppery taste and is often used as a salad addition. It is a very nutritious vegetable and has a variety of benefits.
It contains several vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, A and K. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, which helps to protect your body against oxidative stress. In turn, it improves immune system function and helps fight off infections.
Watercress is also high in fiber. Each cup of watercress contains only four calories. That means that you can add it to your salads without overdoing the carbs. The fiber in the vegetable will help your body maintain a healthy digestive system.
Another benefit of watercress is its antioxidant content. It contains high levels of carotenoids, which are compounds that can mop up free radicals. This may lower your risk of heart disease and cancer.
One study found that watercress increased the beta-carotene content in the blood by 33 percent. Studies also found that watercress can reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration.
It can also prevent cataracts. Research has shown that lutein and zeaxanthin in watercress may protect the eyes from diseases that cause cataracts. These nutrients can also help to lower the risk of coronary artery disease and cancer.
Watercress is a great source of calcium, which regulates the heart and bone health. It also provides a good amount of magnesium, riboflavin, and potassium. Calcium is known to lower the risk of osteoporosis.
It is also a good source of dietary nitrates. Nitrates are compounds that relax the blood vessels. They can also increase athletic performance. When added to your diet, these nutrient-rich vegetables can also promote weight loss.