Beneficial for Heart Health

Watercress may be good for heart health in a variety of ways. Watercress is a member of the cruciferous vegetable family. A diet rich in cruciferous vegetables may be beneficial to cardiovascular health. A meta-analysis of over 500,000 papers found that consuming cruciferous vegetables lowered the risk of heart disease by 16%.

Watercress is high in antioxidants such as beta carotene, zeaxanthin, and lutein. Low levels of these carotenoids have been linked to heart disease and hypertension. High levels of carotenoids have been found in studies to not only protect against the development of heart disease but also lessen your risk of heart attack and stroke. Watercress also includes dietary nitrates, which improve blood vessel health by lowering inflammation and decreasing blood vessel stiffness and thickness. Nitrates in the diet have also been found to reduce blood pressure by raising nitric oxide levels in the blood.