Not only is watercress one of the healthiest foods around, it used to be one
of the most commonly eaten. Now treated as an exotic addition to a salad it
deserves a place centre stage once more.
Watercress, which used to be known as scurvy grass, was at one time regarded as poor man's bread, the first food people turned to as a staple when wheat was in short supply. And where in the world would this exotic substitute for
wheat be found? It might sound like a story from the Mediterranean region but in fact watercress is indigenous to northern Europe and was highly
regarded and much used in southern England.

The Watercress Alliance, a group of watercress producers in the UK reports that Hippocrates, the father of medicine, is thought to have decided on the location for his first hospital because of its proximity to a stream so he could use only the freshest watercress to treat his patients.
A long list of the health benefits attributed by folklore to watercress would include  coughs,head colds, bronchial ailments, tuberculosis,asthma, emphysema, stress, pain,arthritis, stiff back and joints, diabetes, anaemia, constipation, cataracts, failing eyesight, night blindness, leukaemia, cancer, haemorrhaging, heart conditions, eczema, scabies, body deodorizer, oedema, bleeding gums, weight loss, indigestion, alcoholism, intestinal parasites, circulation, sluggish menstruation, lack of energy, kidney and gall stones....

More recently scientists have begun to weigh in with their own research and opinions. Funded by the Watercress Alliance a study by scientists from the University of Ulster;found recently that watercress contains compounds that help to prevent damage to the DNA in white blood cells, an important trigger in the development of cancer. Critics of the study have pointed out that it is a small epidemiological study that suggests more research would be useful, rather than being definitive about the benefits of watercress.
In the study, 60 healthy volunteers, including 30 smokers, ate an 85g bag of fresh watercress every day for eight weeks.DNA damage to white blood cells was cut by an average of 22.9 per cent. Phenylethyl isothio-cyanate (PEITC), a mustard oil responsible for the bitter taste in watercress could be the key factor encouraging the body's protective enzymes to fight cancer.

It is not the first study to point up the potential benefits of incorporating more watercress in the diet. In 1999 researchers at the University of Minnesota Cancer Center also reported a protective effect when smokers consumed watercress.
Watercress is high in beta-carotene, Vitamins A, B1 and B6, C,  E and K. It also contains abundant Iodine, Iron, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc and Quercetin.
Quercetin is a flavonoid which have been shown to reduce inflammation and to be a natural anti-histamine, so useful in combating allergies. It is also an antioxidant.
The online encyclopaedia Wikipedia quotes a recent study in the British Journal of Cancer "when treated with a combination of Quercetin and ultrasound at 20 KHz for 1 minute duration, skin and prostate cancers show a 90% mortality within 48 hours with no visible mortality of normal cells".
The Wellness centre at University of California Berkeley however cautions "Despite some promising preliminary studies, it's too early to recommend Quercetin as a supplement."Best to get it from food.

How to enjoy it. Before industrialised foods became common people would eat watercress as a road-side fast food often consuming it in bunches. These days it tends to be used sparingly except in watercress soup. Though it can be enjoyed in greater quantities than we are used to watercress loses much of its beneficial action when cooked and keeps only for short periods in the
fridge. It is beset eaten on the day of purchase.
Though we associate it mostly with salads it is a perennial and can be added to winter meals as well as summer. Watercress can be added to popular pastes and sauces. Add it into guacamole, hummus and salsa and use it with mashed potatoes and wraps. It is also often recommended in detox juices.

The information provided is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from a physician or other health care professional, and should not be used for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. Consult your health care professional before beginning any diet exercise, supplementation, or medication program if you have or suspect you might have a health challenge.  Do not discontinue any other medical treatments without first consulting your doctor.  Under current legislation, Genesis 1 Nutrition, Inc. is not permitted to make claims to clients in support of health benefits derived from foods. Taking natural products and supplements should be a decision based on personal research and understanding of the role of food-derived benefits for your health and wellbeing.