Watercress is also known as watercress, watercress, watercress..., with the scientific name: Nasturtium officinale or Nasturtium microphyllum, is a type of aquatic or semi-aquatic plant with a pungent, spicy smell.

Watercress is a very good vegetable used to cook soup or stir-fry or make a delicious and healthy salad because watercress contains a rich amount of vitamin C, vitamins A, B1, B2 and many minerals and fiber.

According to Oriental medicine, watercress is cold, slightly bitter and pungent, has diuretic effects, helps digestion, detoxifies... used to treat urinary retention, freckles, supports the treatment of tuberculosis, diabetes, helps prevent goiter, anti-aging...

In addition, watercress also helps with anti-oxidation, anti-toxicity, increases the body's resistance, prevents pathological aging, maintains youthfulness and is especially used to treat kidney and gallstones.

Watercress has the effect of appetizing, nourishing, stimulating digestion, providing minerals for the body, preventing anemia, preventing scurvy, purifying blood, diuretic, reducing blood sugar, treating cough. It also causes sweating, treats worms and detoxifies nicotine.

Anti-cancer effects of watercress

A great use of watercress that very few people know about is its ability to fight cancer.

The anti-cancer benefits of watercress are due to its ability to increase the level of antioxidants in the blood and protect DNA against damage caused by toxic substances.

Experimental and clinical evidence shows that watercress can reduce the risk of prostate cancer in men, colon cancer, cervical cancer, breast cancer in women, and prevent the spread (metastasis) of cancer cells to other organs.

This mechanism is achieved thanks to glucosinolates, a phytochemical found in watercress. When we chew them in the mouth, this substance will be hydrolyzed to produce isothiocynates - active substances with strong anti-cancer effects.

Watercress is also a particularly rich source of nutrients with the active ingredient nɑasturtiin, a precursor of phenethyl isothiocyanate.

According to a recent study published in The British Journal of Nutrition (UK), eating about 100g of watercress per day can prevent breast cancer as well as reduce the risk of cancer in general.

According to Dr. Nicholas Perricone, watercress contains more vitamins, iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, zinc and potassium than broccoli, apples and tomatoes.

Men and women in their 60s, half of whom were smokers, took part in the study by eating about 100g of watercress every day in addition to their normal diet for eight weeks.

The results showed a reduction in DNA damage to blood cells (DNA damage in blood cells is an indicator of cancer risk). In addition, the high vitamin C content in watercress leaves further increased the anti-cancer effect.

At the same time, the active ingredients in watercress also cause an apoptotic effect (killing cancer cells). Similarly, raw watercress extract is also a “bodyguard” for prostate and colon cancer cells by preventing the metastasis of malignant cells.

Isothiocyanate compounds from watercress inhibit the activity of metalloproteinase-9 (an enzyme that can promote the growth of tumors), thereby helping to prevent the invasion of cancer cells, especially breast cancer.

Note: Although watercress is very good, when preparing mixed dishes and salads, it is necessary to wash the vegetables many times with clean water, salt, and potassium permanganate to kill bacteria and parasites that stick to the vegetables.