We love watercress. It’s got a slight hint of spice to it, and tastes wonderful in salads and smoothies alike. However, before we get carried away listing our favorite ways to use this plant, what you might not know straight away is that watercress, aside from just being tasty, is an anti-aging hero and, as such, can really help to improve your skin. Packed with green goodness from the get-go, it contains vitamins A, B1, B2, C, K, calcium, potassium, manganese and phosphorus, which all help to promote oxygenation within the skin, thereby improving circulation and helping the body’s cells to benefit from this enhanced delivery of minerals.
Watercress has previously been reported as being a very good source of beta-carotene, which plays a significant role in fighting free radical damage. Its beta-carotene and vitamin C content go hand in hand which is very convenient for your skin because, in order for this activity to be successful, a fair quantity of vitamin C is needed to complete the process. Not only is watercress good for combating free radicals, but its aforementioned vitamin C content is also extremely useful for helping to support and promote the production of collagen and elastin in the skin, both of which are vital to maintaining visibly younger skin.
You might be surprised to discover that watercress’ calcium content is higher than that of whole milk and, gram for gram, boasts more vitamin C than that found in oranges. Not only this, but watercress is a great source of zeaxanthin and lutein, providing 45x more than tomatoes! Zeaxanthin and lutein are two vital carotenoids that behave like antioxidants when introduced to the human body. Together, they work towards helping to safeguard the body’s fats, proteins and even DNA from damage and, as such, have been proclaimed to help shield the skin from UV-related damage. In doing so, these carotenoids have been said to improve the appearance and tone of the skin – something that we’re definitely on board with.
So, how much do you have to eat to gain benefits from watercress? One study detailed that, after giving the participants 80g of watercress to eat per day, a visible difference was noted in both their skin and overall energy levels. However, if you don’t fancy tucking into this much watercress, just a cup is said to provide you with your daily quota of vitamin K. Alternatively, add a good bunch to a fruity smoothie to disguise the taste. Due to its aforementioned calcium content, watercress can really benefit your bones and overall bodily strength as well. Talk about multitasking!
If you want to discover more anti-aging foods, visit our Diet page. For more information about the best anti-aging vitamins, check out our Dermal Vitamins page to get started.