2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Cresson (Nasturtium Officinale) is also known as watercress, watercress or wet. It is called so because it grows near springs, mountain streams and rivers throughout the country up to 1500 m above sea level. Watercress is essentially an herb, but some experts also qualify it as a leafy vegetable, as in southern Europe and the Middle East it is widely used as an ingredient in a variety of salads.
Garden watercress (Lepidium sativum), also known as watercress, originates from Northeast Africa and Southwest Asia. It belongs to the cruciferous family and is an annual plant. Watercress (Lepidum sativum) can not be grown in our home garden with other spices, because it grows best in shallow water and especially in calcareous springs.
On the other hand, growing watercress in pots is quite easy, as long as you satisfy its regular water needs. Watercress is sown every 7-10 days from early spring until the onset of heat and again in late summer. The rows should be 20-25 cm. Later, after thinning, the plants are left 8-10 cm apart.
For 2-3 weeks after germination watercress can already be harvested. During this short period it is watered regularly and fertilized once. From watercress we can grow sprouts, but also the whole plant, which reaches 30-60 cm.
History of watercress
The watercress is considered to be the homeland of watercress, and it is considered one of the first plants that people began to cultivate - it was used by Greek and Persian soldiers as a stimulant and a means of better tone and endurance. On the Old Continent watercress came in antiquity, was grown in Greece and Rome. In ancient Egypt, it was a prized plant intended as a gift for pharaohs resting in the pyramids.
The Romans called watercress a "wrinkled nose" because of the spicy smell it emits. It is also said that Hippocrates founded the first hospital near a stream near which he grew up watercressto use the fresh stems of the plant to treat their patients. Its cultivation began in the 16th century and grew wild throughout Europe. The leaves of watercress are smooth, oval and deep green in color.
Composition of watercress
In 100 g of garden watercress contain only 11 kcal. Watercress is a valuable source of easily digestible iodine, and also contains vitamins: A, B1, B2, E, PP. The minerals contain sulfur, chromium, potassium, manganese, magnesium and calcium.
Watercress petals are rich in vitamins: C, P and group B, calcium, magnesium, iodine and iron, as well as carotene, rutin and many mineral salts. The plant is rich in a variety of chemicals, including glucosinolates, lutein, flavonoids, hydrocanelic acids. 80 g of watercress provides the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables a day.
Useful recipes with watercress
Here are a few easy recipes with watercresswhich everyone can prepare even on their own, feeling the strong healing effect of the plant.
1. Immerse about 100 grams of watercress for 5-6 minutes in 300 milliliters of water over low heat until the liquid boils. Take 50 grams of it before meals and 1 hour before bedtime. This will help you deal with anxiety and sleep problems.
2. If you have to undergo chemotherapy, you can minimize the negative consequences with fresh watercress juice in combination with beets and carrots in a ratio of 1: 1. Take 2 tablespoons 30 minutes before eating.
3. In case of frequent increase in blood pressure, it is good to include in your menu about 100 grams of watercress in the diet which will help to normalize the values.
4. The plant is also very useful in sexual dysfunction in the stronger sex. In this case, it is recommended to take 50 grams of finely chopped watercress in combination with fresh parsley, crushed cashews and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.
5. You can freeze the juice of watercress, and then use it as a mask with other useful ingredients - honey, yogurt, olive oil, egg and others. The plant helps to improve the complexion and fresh appearance of the skin.
Selection and storage of watercress
When choosing a watercress on the market, pay attention to whether the color is fresh green, without yellow and wilted leaves. The stems of the stalks must be very strong, without withered areas.
To keep the watercress fresh for a long time, there are also some little tricks. The watercress will not turn yellow if you wrap it in damp newspaper. Wrapped in this way, you can put it in the lower compartment of the refrigerator and keep it for another day or two. If you don't have a refrigerator right now, just soak the watercress in a glass of cold water, halfway up the stems.
Cooking with watercress
The long history of watercress is interesting and diverse. It is important to know that watercress is very volatile, so use it as soon as you buy it. In the English court, the plant was once called "the bread of the poor" because of the tradition of working-class people having breakfast in the morning with a sandwich with watercress or only with watercress if there was no bread.
Today, watercress is popular for making many soups or salads in combination with olive oil and vinegar. Watercress is used cooked with green leafy vegetables and potatoes in cream soups. Its taste and aroma go well with salads with avocados and fish sauces, as well as garnish with roast meat and game. It is often used as a fresh side dish to main dishes. Some authors call watercress - a natural superfood.
Even today watercress and is often used in sandwiches. It is consumed as a side dish to red meats, fish and poultry, in salads or mashed. Watercress leaves are juicy with a spicy and fresh taste, which is somewhat reminiscent of horseradish.
Watercress sprouts are delicious and useful and we can grow them at home in pots at any time of the year. Cut the watercress leaves like wild onions and add it freely to the curd or just on a slice of butter.
Spring salad with watercress
eggs - 6 pcs.
asparagus - about 30 stalks
watercress - 100 g
olive oil - 3 tbsp
parmesan - 100 g
Method of preparation: Boil the eggs for 5 minutes, cool them, peel them and cut them into 2 or 4 pieces each. Peel the asparagus, leaving only the white part. Then boil them in salted water for 4 minutes or until tender. Mix the asparagus and watercress in a larger bowl and arrange the eggs on top. Sprinkle with olive oil, a little salt and pepper and grated Parmesan.
Benefits of watercress
Watercress is known as a remedy for skin ulcers, disinfects the oral cavity and digestive tract. It should be present in the menu of pregnant women and children. It can not be overdone, as it is highly diuretic - it stimulates the excretion of urine and thus helps cleanse the body of toxins. Supports good kidney function, facilitates urination and relieves bladder problems.
For centuries, watercress has been used in various cultures to break down kidney or bladder stones. In ancient times, it was used as a sleep herb to calm the nervous system. The North American Indians used watercress for kidney and liver pain and to break down gallstones. In England during the reign of Queen Victoria, before oranges became an available commodity, watercress was consumed as a means of preventing scurvy.
Watercress is recommended for reduced thyroid function due to its iodine content. It has antioxidant action and stimulates digestion. Watercress is used to improve the secretion and flow of bile, which supports the work of the liver, to relieve pain in the gallbladder, and is known to be useful for digestion. The high content of iron in watercress is useful in anemia, and because of the iron in combination with folic acid, which is also rich, makes the plant very suitable for pregnant women.
Watercress is an excellent food for physically exhausted people. It is rich in antioxidants and suppresses stress under high load and helps to maximize the benefits of strenuous exercise. Even small amounts of watercress immediately increase the level of antioxidants in the body. Immediately before the load, the watercress will protect you from the negative consequences of intense sports.
Watercress is the richest a natural source of the specific essential mustard oil phenylethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), which in animal experiments and later in humans has been shown to fight cancer cells. Watercress can reduce the risk of breast cancer and prostate cancer.
In what conditions is the consumption of watercress useful?
1. In various dermatological lesions (scabies, allergies, poorly healing purulent wounds) can be used ointments and oils from the seeds of the plant;
2. The leaves are a wonderful natural remedy for skin injuries (burns, bruises, abrasions);
3. Has a temperature-lowering effect;
4. Effective natural remedy for cough, bronchitis, joint pain and gallstone disease;
5. It is recommended if you want to lose weight and lose weight, as it improves the activity of the intestinal tract. Along with this it has the ability to absorb harmful toxic substances that have accumulated in the body. As a result, the metabolism improves and so does the weight;
6. Green salad with watercress has a positive effect on the cleansing of blood vessels and lymph;
7. Lowers blood pressure and prevents blood clots;
8. This wonderful natural remedy has an anti-inflammatory effect;
9. Cleans the airways of accumulated skeleton;
10. Helps maintain water-salt balance, which improves the condition of the skin and moisturizes it;
11. Improves blood quality, which is why watercress is especially useful as a prophylactic against cancer and in already detected tumors;
12. Helps in the fight against impotence, reproductive disorders in men and prostate diseases;
13. Restores the activity of the thyroid gland and reduces the risk of developing endocrine pathologies.
Remember that you should never engage in self-medication. It is important to hear the opinion beforehand and consult a medical professional who will assess whether the plant or treatment is right for you.
Contraindications to the consumption of watercress
Despite its many beneficial properties, watercress can also have a negative effect on health.
1. In case of individual intolerance and allergy to this product (skin rash, itching, irritation, etc.). In this case, it is not recommended to take watercress, which is harmful to health in these individual contraindications;
2. If you suffer from hypotension (low blood pressure), then in this case it is important to limit watercress intake, as it has a lowering effect on blood pressure, which is due to the active enzymes in its composition;
3. It is not desirable to be present in the diet of people suffering from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, as it has the ability to exacerbate this type of pathology with a similar etiology;
4. Watercress absorbs toxins and heavy metals very easily. For this reason, it is very important to grow in clean areas, not to gather next to roads or highways, where it can also grow. In this case, it has absorbed all heavy metals and toxins from the gases of the vehicles. This "delicacy" should not be taken by both healthy people and the sick for the reasons mentioned above.
This plant can also be used as a decoration of various dishes. It can also be added to salads, soups, fish and meat dishes, omelets and sauces. It is very rarely used in dried form, as it has a rather unpleasant aroma, loses its nutritional value and becomes tasteless. Freshly squeezed juice from the plant is a powerful tool for the treatment of many diseases. It is also widely used in cosmetics.
If the user has an allergic reaction (rash or irritation), feeding with this product should be discontinued and medication provided if necessary.
Beautification and weight loss with watercress
Another famous English herbalist from the 17th century - Nicholas Culpepper, recommended the bitter, slightly spicy and arousing taste of watercress to "cleanse the face" of pimples and blemishes. Today, watercress is a very effective tool for removing freckles and beautiful hair.
Cresson gets wet in some types of cosmetics. In addition to improving the appearance of the skin and nails, it fights rashes and eczema. It is known that the French most likely removed freckles and "erased" pigment spots with watercress juice, which has a strong whitening effect.
Watercress can help you lose weight because it is low-calorie green leafy vegetables. It can be a major ingredient in various diets. In addition, 85% of the calories in watercress are in the form of protein, which is an extremely large amount.
Including regularly watercress in the menu You will speed up your metabolism, improve your physical endurance, and additionally the "magic plant" will help you get rid of excess fluids from the body, because it is a great antioxidant.
Nature has given humanity many useful plants that we can use actively in the treatment of many diseases or simply for prophylactic purposes, improving health. With the right approach and taking into account the contraindications, watercress can have an extremely strong positive impact and solve a number of health problems.
