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Watercress, not to be confused with garden cress (Image: ANP / Richard Brocken)
According to scientific research, you can easily grow the healthiest food in the world at home. We would say: do it so that you always have the ultimate superfood watercress available at home.
A few years ago, researchers at William Paterson University in New Jersey examined 41 fruits and vegetables considered the healthiest. The winner — officially the most nutrient-dense food in the world — might surprise you. Watercress, not to be confused with garden cress, can be grown at home even by amateurs.
Watercress is the healthiest food in the world
The researchers examined the foods for their nutrient density. With a total of 100 points, the winner in the ranking of the healthiest foods beats Chinese cabbage (91.99 points), chard (89.27 points), beetroot (87.08 points) and spinach (86.43 points). Watercress is therefore even healthier than this vegetable.
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Watercress contains a wide variety of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. The latter has a positive influence on your intestines and your blood pressure. Just 100 grams of the herb would be enough to cover the majority of your daily vitamin C requirements. This means that watercress contains much more vitamin C than oranges and lemons, making it the ultimate immune booster.
Nutrients and health benefits
But with vitamin C alone we are missing out on the healthiest food in the world. Lots of nutrients and health benefits at a glance.
- High amounts of iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium – important ingredients for building bones and muscle.
- A significant amount of vitamin K in watercress may help prevent cell damage in the brain.
- Antioxidants in watercress protect against DNA damage caused by free radicals and may even reduce the risk of cancer.
- Mustard essential oil provides a slightly pungent taste, but also makes watercress a natural cough medicine. In addition, mustard oils have a digestive effect.
- According to New Jersey researchers, watercress also has detoxifying and blood-purifying effects.
Superfood, easy to grow at home
As already mentioned, the healthiest food in the world grows in your home and can therefore be sown all year round. Since it is originally a swamp plant, you can hardly give the seeds too much water. Sow the seeds in moist, calcareous soil and cover it with half a centimeter of soil. Keep well moist.
This mineral is important for your heart, so you get enough of it
Watercress can also be grown on a tray covered with a thick layer of batting, cotton or plain paper towels. Spread the seeds on the material, press lightly and keep moist with lukewarm water. If necessary, cover with brown or black paper to encourage germination. For 1.99 euros you get a pack of organic watercress for home cultivation.
Don’t eat too much
Watercress grown at home has a pleasant taste and is the ideal addition to many different dishes, from soup to fried eggs. But even though it is officially considered the healthiest food in the world, you shouldn’t eat too much of it.
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100 grams of watercress provides most of your daily vitamin C requirement. However, this corresponds to the amount in a large bowl. And you definitely shouldn’t eat that much, because the essential mustard oils can cause bladder, kidney and stomach irritation if the portions are too large. Especially if you are sensitive to it. Less is more, even with the healthiest food in the world. Simply add a handful regularly to a salad or other meal. They are just crazy in this regard.
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