Hippocrates - who once said "let food be thy medicine" - was known to feed watercress to his patients. With more than 15 essential vitamins and minerals, it is no surprise that the ancient Greeks ensured their soldiers enjoyed watercress before battle. If you compare watercress to other foods by weight, it contains more vitamin C than citrus, more iron than spinach, and more calcium than milk.
Five more reasons to eat watercress
1. Watercress is high in antioxidants: Daily environmental stressors wreak havoc on our cells by causing damage at the most fundamental levels. Watercress helps to prevent this kind of damage to the DNA through its antioxidant protection.
2. Watercress may help prevent cancer: Watercress contains a compound called phenethyl isothiocyanate, which studies have shown could be a powerful preventative agent against esophageal and lung cancers.
Five reasons to add healthy watercress to your salad
