Watercress - Useful Properties, Application, Composition, Calorie Content

The ratio of BJU in the product

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There are several types of watercress, among which there are plants with curly, cut and whole leaves. The ripening period of the salad depends on the type of leaves.

The sowing watercress belongs to the early ripening varieties of watercress, it is best known, because it has large leaves. The color of the leaves is also different - from yellowish-green and green to bluish.

The watercress has a rather piquant taste, which is distinguished by its special spice. Lettuce grows very quickly, and in spring it appears much earlier than other vegetables, since it is not afraid of frosts.

Application of watercress

All varieties of watercress have almost identical chemical composition, which can be characterized by only minor differences. Combinations of vitamins with a host of other nutrients are very successful, which explains the usefulness of watercress. So, the plant contains vitamins of group B, E, D, PP, A, C, K, as well as minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, iodine, iron, magnesium. A fairly high content in watercress and proteins, essential oils, carbohydrates, sugars, lepidine alkaloid, propsoline glycoside, fatty oils and flavonoids.

The beneficial properties of watercress, when consumed regularly, guarantee an improvement in appetite, normalization of blood pressure, elimination of toxins and toxins, and regulation of digestion. Traditional medicine has been using salad for a long time as an anti-inflammatory and general tonic.

Its wound healing, expectorant, diuretic, anti-sclerotic and sedative properties are also noted. But thanks to the antioxidant properties of watercress, it is able to fight depression and improve sleep.

Official medicine has begun recommending the inclusion of watercress in the diet recently, explaining this decision by the fact that it can prevent many eye diseases, as well as reduce the possibility of developing cancer.

Traditional medicine recommends using watercress leaves in the treatment of burns, ulcers, wounds and skin diseases, as well as colds, joint pain and gallstone disease.

Watercress is also used as an adjuvant in the treatment of cancer and prostatitis. Traditional healers recommended that men eat unripe plant seeds or their alcoholic tincture, because it was believed that this could significantly increase sexual activity.

Modern medicine notes the presence in watercress of substances that ensure the integrity of the blood cell structure, which means that when you eat the salad, the likelihood of developing cancer cells is significantly reduced.

Various infusions, decoctions and tinctures are prepared from the roots, leaves and seeds of watercress. And using dried leaves, they make oil. For the effective treatment of pustules and acne, a gruel of chopped lettuce is used, which is applied and fixed with bandages on the affected areas.

Fresh watercress juice helps with dandruff by simply rubbing it into your scalp. By adding juice to the water while taking a bath, many skin problems can be cured.

It is recommended to use watercress inside for peeling and redness of the skin, mastopathy, edema and prostatitis. The procedure will be most effective if you make compresses with chopped herbs on problem areas at the same time.

The salad is also used for colds in the form of mustard plasters, where instead of mustard it is necessary to use a powder made from the seeds of watercress.

For external use, either an ointment made from seeds is used, or oil made using seeds. You can also prepare the ointment yourself from the roots or dried leaves of watercress, which must be ground into powder and mixed in a 1: 3 ratio with petroleum jelly or fat, but you will need to buy oil. Instead of lettuce juice, decoctions and infusions, which are prepared from both dry and fresh leaves, are perfect. To prepare the infusion, you need to take 2 tbsp. l. dry and 3 tbsp. l. fresh leaves, and then pour them with a glass of boiling water. After two hours, which this mixture will spend in a thermos or a warm place, the infusion is ready.

For the broth, the watercress leaves must be brought to a boil over low heat, boil for 5-7 minutes, and then cool. You need to take such a broth chilled in a third of a glass if you are tormented by anxiety or insomnia. A hot broth will be helpful for severe coughs or bronchitis.

It is noted that daily consumption of watercress can improve sleep and reduce the destructive effect of stress on the body. The high content of iodine in the salad will be able to support the normal functioning of the thyroid gland, as well as prevent the development of various endocrine diseases. When combined with a salad and juices, diets that promote weight loss will be quite effective.

For the prevention of various dental diseases, it is recommended to eat young greens or sprouted salad seeds daily.

The beneficial properties of watercress are widely used in cosmetology, for which both plant juice and its oil are suitable.

The salad has long been used in cooking, especially the chefs of Western Europe.

Harm of watercress

Almost nothing is known about the dangers of this plant, but it is noted that negative consequences can still be in the case of individual rejection of the product, this can be expressed in a wide variety of allergic reactions.

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