JOY FEELINGS MAGAZINE February Love issue 2017! | Page 23
lima, and black beans are more difficult to digest.
Why Watercress Is a Super-Healing Food
Not only is watercress extremely nutritious, it ' s about as close as you can get to a calorie-free food. Calorie for calorie, it provides four times the calcium of 2 percent milk. Ounce for ounce, it offers as much vitamin C as an orange and more iron than spinach. It ' s packed with vitamin A and has lots of vitamin K, along with multiple antioxidant carotenoids and protective phytochemicals.
The nutrients in watercress protect against cancer and macular degeneration, help build the immune system, and support bone health. The iron helps red blood cells carry oxygen to your body ' s tissues for energy. The phytochemicals in watercress battle cancer in three ways: killing cancer cells, blocking carcinogens, and protecting healthy cells from carcinogens. They ' ve also been linked to lower risk for lung and esophageal cancer and can help lower your risk for other cancers.
In Chinese medicine, watercress is thought to help reduce tumors, improve night vision, and stimulate bile production( improving digestion and settling intestinal gas). It ' s used as a remedy for jaundice, urinary difficulty, sore throat, mumps, and bad breath.