My pick of the week is watercress!! This little bunch if healthiness helped to deliver a big wake up call to my body from eating the same things over and over. NO more of that! EVER! Read all about the wonderful benefits in watercress and add some watercress TODAY!!! Vitamins and Minerals One cup of watercress contains 106 percent of the Recommended Dietary Allowance, or RDA, for vitamin K, which assists in blood clotting. It also provides 22 percent of vitamin A, 24 percent of vitamin C and 2 percent of vitamin E. These vitamins act as antioxidants to support vision health and collagen production. In addition, they scavenge free radicals in the body that can cause cellular damage, which contributes to aging and disease. Watercress also provides 2 percent of the RDA for vitamin B6, thiamin, riboflavin, phosphorus and magnesium. The 1-cup serving offers 4 percent of your daily calcium needs. Health Benefits Watercress contains many phytochemicals such as glucosinolates, which are plant compounds that offer disease prevention. Glucosinolates are best absorbed from raw vegetables, and since watercress is rarely cooked, it provides an excellent source of glucosinolates. Watercress has a higher antioxidant concentration than apples or broccoli. A study in the “Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry” published in April 2008 found that baby leaf watercress contained more antioxidants than other greens such as mizuna and rocket. Cancer-Fighting Potential Regular consumption of watercress may reduce your risk of developing certain types of cancer. A study in the February 2007 edition of the “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition” found that the antioxidants and carotenoids in watercress can reduce cellular damage related to the development of cancer. In the study, researchers from the University of Ulster fed 30 smokers and 30 nonsmokers 85 g of raw watercress daily for 8 weeks. While all participants experienced benefits, the smokers experienced the most significant benefits.

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