Watercress is annual plant. It has long been added to dishes as a spice and used to treat many ailments. To understand the benefits and harms of watercress, you need to familiarize yourself with its composition in detail. Moreover, the application is found in all parts of the plant - leaves, seeds, roots.

Composition and calories

The salad has a calorie content of 32 kcal. The energy value greens: 2 g protein, 1 g fat, 4 g carbohydrates.

The benefits of watercress for the human body are priceless due to the rich vitamin content and low calorie content.

Health Benefits of Watercress

The healing qualities of the plant were appreciated in antiquity. The leaves were used to heal wounds, treat skin and gallstone diseases. Already modern medicine recommends watercress to improve vision, prevent eye diseases and oncology.

For men and women

The benefits of watercress are invaluable for both women and women. men's health. The fair sex appreciate greens for their low calorie content, positive influence on skin and hair. And men appreciate the ability of greens to restore potency, enhance sexual treatment, and treat prostatitis.

During pregnancy and breastfeeding

Women in position should also pay attention to watercress. Greens added to salads or other dishes facilitate the removal of excess fluid from the body, improve intestinal motility and eliminate constipation.

Attention! Nursing mothers should consult a pediatrician before using the plant. Since this green is a strong allergen.

For kids

To function properly the immune system, it is enough to add a little salad to children's dishes. The benefits of watercress for the health of the child is manifested in its restorative and anti-inflammatory qualities.

At the slightest symptoms of a cold, it is enough to give the child a warm infusion of leaves twice a day or use the leaves as mustard plasters. Due to the mild expectorant effect, an infusion of greens will help treat a bad cough.

For the elderly

Reasonable addition of leaves to dishes will help normalize blood pressure and restore restful sleep, reduce nervous tension. The benefits of greens are also manifested in the reduction of joint pain. The use of this plant will be an excellent prevention of eye diseases and maintenance of vision.

Benefits of watercress for weight loss

Dishes with salad are suitable for women who dream of losing weight. Low calorie, combined with a high content of vitamins and trace elements, make greens an indispensable addition to salads. What is the use of this plant? Fresh juice improves digestion and helps to remove toxins from the body. Therefore, weight loss is natural and easy.

Application in medicine: folk recipes

• to normalize digestion, take leafy infusion. A glass of boiling water is poured over chopped leaves (25 g) and infused for 25-30 minutes. Strained infusion is drunk before meals, 3 times a day for a dessert spoon;
• cough and bronchitis are also treated with watercress infusion. A glass of boiling water is diluted with 3 tbsp. spoons of crushed leaves. Strained infusion is drunk warm, 3 times a day before meals, 2 tbsp. l;
• with mastopathy or seals in the chest, apply compresses from fresh leaves. Shredded greens are applied to the affected area for 2-3 hours;

A special benefit of external use is the acceleration of wound healing. An ointment with watercress is applied to the affected areas of the skin. For its preparation fresh leaves grind well and mix with ghee(in a ratio of 1:5).

The use of watercress in cosmetology

Nutritious and healing properties The plants also show up when used outdoors. The benefits of greenery are undeniable: the skin is smoothed and its tone is evened out, inflammatory processes stop and inflammation disappears.

For hair problems

The benefits of watercress for hair are due to the presence of sulfur. This element is necessary for the formation of keratin. The plant promotes hair growth and prevents hair loss. The benefit is also manifested in the fight against dandruff - freshly squeezed juice is rubbed into the scalp.

Face masks

Thanks to the ability to combine the plant with different products, easy to mix for any skin type.

Basic masks:

• for acne, it is recommended to cut the foliage, add a little water and boil it slightly (literally 5 minutes). The leaves are taken out of the water and cooled put on the face. After 5-10 minutes, clean and rinse the skin with cool water;
• benefit for oily skin: chopped leaves (2 tablespoons) mixed with honey (1 teaspoon). Add egg white and put on the face. The mask is washed off with cool water after 10-15 minutes;
• for normal skin, a mask of mashed lettuce (10-14 leaves), olive oil (1/2 tsp) is suitable. Add 7-10 drops lemon juice and applied to the skin for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, the mixture is washed off;
• to even out skin tone, use a mixture of crushed leaves and sour milk(2 tbsp each). The mask is kept for 10 minutes and washed off with cool water.

At spring beriberi flaking is a common skin problem. The benefits of watercress are manifested in the ability to eliminate this problem. A mask of 5-10 crushed leaves and heavy cream will help. The porridge-like mixture is applied to the face and kept for 10-15 minutes. Wash off with warm water.

AT preventive purposes You can use cosmetic ice in the summer. To do this, beat the leaves with a small amount of water and lemon juice with a blender until a puree-like appearance. The mixture is poured into molds and frozen. Wash your face in the morning. The main benefit is to even out skin tone.

Watercress in cooking

Due to the original taste, the plant is used as a spicy additive for different dishes. The leaves are used in the preparation of salads, soups, sauces, casseroles, sandwiches, fresh green smoothies.

The benefits of the plant are preserved both in dried and stewed form:

• ground dried leaves are seasoned with scrambled eggs or scrambled eggs;
• fruit salads sprinkled with a dried plant acquire an unexpected aftertaste;
• the aroma of grass unobtrusively emphasizes the smell of meat or fish dishes;
• lovers of cottage cheese and cheeses can also experiment with the tastes of familiar products.

In order not to be disappointed in the plant, it is advisable to introduce it into the diet gradually. And then it will be easy to create your own original recipes familiar dishes. Since the benefits of dried herbs are less, it is advisable to use them fresh.

Possible harm and contraindications

Benefits of watercress for cooking delicious meals and face masks is undeniable.

But we must also take into account the harm that the plant can cause to the human body:

• This plant culture is a strong allergen. Therefore, sensitive people are advised to use carefully. Before using the plant, it is better to do a test - apply a little juice to the skin and evaluate the body's reaction;
• it is undesirable for hypotensive people to get carried away with this greenery, since the pressure can dangerously drop;
• with abundant addition of herbs to dishes, headaches, insomnia can be observed.

When using any products, it is desirable to comply with the measure. And then the harm of the plant will not have to be felt on your own body. The special benefit of the plant is manifested due to the presence of substances that ensure the safety of cellular structures.

Advice! Adding leaves to your daily diet reduces the risk of developing blood cancer.

Quality product selection and storage

Watercress has many varieties. The leaves can be of different shades (even bluish or yellowish), shapes. When buying, the quality of greenery is first of all checked by touch.

Attention! Fresh leaves are firm and juicy. The sheet plate must be solid, undamaged (no tears or holes).

It is not recommended to eat dried or sluggish leaves, since the content of nutrients in them will be minimal. Incomprehensible spots or growths can be symptoms of a plant disease and it is better to “bypass” such a product.

If you do not intend to immediately use the greens, then it is better to wrap it in parchment or thick paper. If there is only plastic bags, it is recommended to make holes in them - for ventilation. Pre-washing the greens is not recommended, otherwise wet leaves can quickly rot. The best option- a food container in which the leaves will not wrinkle much. Store herbs preferably in the refrigerator. Plucked leaves remain juicy for 5-7 days. Therefore, it does not make sense to keep greens in the refrigerator for more than a week. It is better to freeze watercress for the winter in plastic containers.

Conclusion

This plant cannot be classified as widely advertised, so what are the benefits and harms of watercress is better to check personally. It is believed that a person should eat 500 g of various fruits / vegetables and greens every day. It is in fresh, unprocessed foods that most of the nutrients are stored.

This plant grows very fast, so growing it on a windowsill is great option fully enrich the diet with vitamins in winter and summer.

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Watercress is an annual or biennial, herbaceous plant from the Klopovnik family, widely used in cooking and medicine. The appearance of the lettuce is a thin stem with lots of green leaves. The flowers of the plant can vary from white to pale purple.

Iran is considered the birthplace of watercress. Due to its taste and ease of cultivation, this vegetable is popular in almost every corner of the world. In Africa, was bred special grade this vegetable. It contains a large number of oil, which is used as an independent medicinal product, as well as in the cosmetic and medical industries.

Watercress - useful properties

1. Anticarcinogenic properties of watercress

   Part this salad contains a substance (phytonutrient) that is effective in the prevention and treatment of cancer. A positive trend in terms of preventing and stopping cancer has been identified with a daily intake of 80 grams of watercress daily.

   In the course of the following studies, the anticarcinogenic effect of this plant was also confirmed, in relation to stomach cancer and lung cancer.

   colorectal cancer. Although studies have shown conflicting results, scientists have concluded that dietary intake of folic acid, which is found in watercress, is beneficial in preventing colon cancer.

2. Elimination of damage to the DNA of leukocytes

   In relation to this statement, studies were conducted among smokers who were prescribed to eat 85 grams fresh lettuce daily. At the conclusion of this experiment, scientists confirmed that, in 22.9% of the subjects, cellular damage to the structure of white blood cells decreased. Also, when blood cells interacted with hydrogen peroxide, the harm was observed to be 9.4% lower than under normal conditions.

   Cruciferous vegetables, like watercress, have a bitter taste. What is due to the phytochemical composition of these plants. In turn, the flavoids present in their composition stimulate the natural defense of body cells. The same study said that the anticarcinogenic properties this vegetable explains the content of antioxidants in it, in particular lutein and beta-carotene, and during the experiment an increased amount of them was found in the blood of the study participants.

Watercress contains large quantity of this vitamin than an orange. This has a beneficial effect on the restoration of brain tissue, reduces the risk of damage to blood cells and helps prevent colds.

Other studies on the effects of vitamin C on the body have revealed its ability to improve vision and act as a prophylactic in the fight against cataracts.

Watercress, like other vegetables in the cruciferous and cabbage family, has a positive effect on thyroid health. In particular, they help reduce thyroid hormones. Raw watercress is most beneficial. It is also allowed to consume it in a slightly fried form.

3. Cardiovascular health

   Beyond the rich vitamin composition watercress contains secondary metabolites. These organic substances help to reduce the risk of formation of many chronic diseases. Also, plants from the cruciferous family have a beneficial effect on lowering cholesterol, which in turn reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases(atherosclerosis and other chronic heart diseases). The high content of vitamin C in given plant, helps reduce damage to heart tissue, and is also actively involved in the formation of new cardiac myocyte cells, which helps improve heart health.

4. healthy bones

   Daily consumption of calcium-rich foods, which include watercress, helps reduce the occurrence of diseases associated with the condition of the bones. By increasing the production of osteoblasts and cells responsible for the "repair" and strengthening of bones, with daily use vegetables from the cruciferous family, the risk of a disease such as osteoporosis is significantly reduced. Also, this salad is a rich source of folic acid, which improves the absorption of nutrients for and helps maintain normal bone density.

5. Natural source of folic acid

   Folic acid plays a very important role in daily maintenance general health body, as well as in the prevention of many diseases. Watercress is a source of folic acid for the health of the body. Daily consumption this product helps to cope with diseases such as: depression, stroke, breast and colon cancer, osteoporosis, cognitive decline and neural tube defects in children.

6. natural antidepressant

   The content of folic acid in the body affects the general mood of a person. Its low level can cause a decrease in appetite or excess consumption alcohol, which in turn can lead to depression. In an analysis of 19 studies involving 15,315 participants, it was found that low folic acid levels increase the risk of depression. Folic acid is involved in the body's production of a neurotransmitter serotonin, which is often called "harmonica Have a good mood» .

7. Stroke prevention

   Studies in which 662 adults took part revealed a beneficial effect in the consumption of foods high in folic acid in the prevention of stroke. In this regard, it is recommended to include watercress in the diet for people at risk of stroke.

8. healthy pregnancy

   Folic acid is essential for the development of a healthy embryo as it plays an important role in normal cell division. A daily intake of at least 400 micrograms of folic acid in pregnant women is indicated for the normal development of the neural tube of the fetus. Watercress, with its high folic acid content, may help reduce the risk of such conditions during pregnancy.

In the article we talk about the benefits of watercress, its chemical composition and application. You will learn how the plant is used in cooking, and what harm an uncontrolled intake of watercress can cause to the body. We will tell you how to grow watercress on the windowsill, and why it cannot be harvested for future use.

Watercress is an annual edible herbaceous plant of the Cruciferous or Cabbage family. Very unpretentious in cultivation, easily tolerates lack of sunlight, resistant to frost. grows in wild environment. Also cultivated at home, its easy. Below in the photo - watercress grown at home.

Appearance (photo) lettuce cress

The plant reaches a height of 30-60 centimeters. It has small leaves of different structure. There are several varieties of watercress, which differ from each other in the shape and color of the leaves. The plant begins to bloom closer to mid-summer, bears fruit from early July to November. The fruit is shaped like an oval pod.

Chemical composition

Watercress leaves contain:

• potassium;
• calcium;
• phosphorus;
• iron;
• magnesium;
• sulfur;
• copper;
• vitamins A, groups B, C, D, E, K, PP;
• mustard essential oil;
• fatty oil.

Propsolin glycoside, which is part of mustard essential oil, provides individuality to the smell.

The calorie content of the plant is about 30 kcal per 100 g of product.

Beneficial features

Confirmed beneficial effect watercress to work of cardio-vascular system . The plant normalizes blood pressure. It is especially recommended for people with low blood pressure.

Watercress is used in the treatment and prevention of oncology. The plant renders healing effect to the thyroid gland and endocrine system generally.

Strengthens immunity. It is recommended for people suffering from asthma, frequent bronchitis, lung diseases. Gargling with the juice of this salad relieves sore throats and coughs. Lettuce seed powder can be used instead of mustard in the manufacture of mustard plasters for colds.

The herb is useful during pregnancy - the salad contains folic acid, which is important for the proper development of the fetus. The benefits of this plant have also been proven during preparation for conception.

Watercress is prescribed for people with sleep disorders, depression, regular stress.

The use of this herb protects against eye diseases, cataracts. Watercress is suitable for the prevention of diseases of the teeth and gums. The juice of a young plant can rinse your mouth with stomatitis, gingivitis, periodontitis.

This herb is also used in cosmetology, adding it to various masks. Beneficial effect on the condition of the skin. Cosmetics with the addition of watercress relieve oily sheen, smooth wrinkles. Juice from fresh shoots used in hair care. Effectively eliminates dandruff, and baths with this ingredient relieve dermatological diseases.

Watercress ointment relieves allergies, scabies and scrofula. Used as a bactericidal and wound healing agent.

Application in cooking

Watercress leaves have a sharp, slightly spicy taste. To one it resembles horseradish, to another - radish, to the third - mustard.

In the CIS countries is not very popular. Therefore, it is logical to ask the question “Cress - what is it, and what is it eaten with?”

Watercress is used only in fresh, added to salads, hot dishes and gravies. You can add some greens to the pasta, this will give it a pleasant taste.

The plant is not harvested for future use, since the grass loses all its beneficial properties during the process of drying and freezing and acquires an unpleasant odor.

Poorly tolerates heat treatment, therefore, add to hot dishes immediately before removing from heat. Experienced chefs it is not recommended to cut lettuce leaves with a knife, watercress (photo below) must be torn with your hands.

watercress is used only fresh

The plant goes well with:

• legumes;
• eggplant;
• fried zucchini;
• oranges;
• apples;
• fried and stewed meat;
• rice
• pasta;
• millet porridge.

lovers healthy eating add it to your daily diet. fans vegetarian food blanch watercress with sugar and butter dressings, adding wine to the dish.

Young lettuce resembles radishes in taste, so it is used to make sandwiches and sandwiches, complementing bread with butter or cheese. Pairs well with cottage cheese soft varieties cheeses and eggs.

Contraindications and possible harm

Watercress has a number of contraindications:

• gastritis;
• colitis;
• stomach or duodenal ulcer;
• hypotension;
• kidney disease;
• frequent urination;
• children up to 7-9 years old.

If you are using watercress for the first time, do not “lean” on it. Any product should be tried first. small dose to determine if there is an individual intolerance.

Possible negative reactions, which leads to excessive consumption of watercress:

• allergic rash, itching;
• lowering blood pressure;
• indigestion;
• sleep loss;
• headaches.

Possible harm is observed only when overuse inside. For external use harmful effects not found.

For more information about watercress, see the video:

What to remember

1. Young shoots of the plant improve digestion, normalize bowel function, remove excess water, cleanse toxins and toxins. All this contributes to weight loss.
2. The plant is an aphrodisiac that stimulates reproductive function.
3. The high content of iodine in lettuce is shown to normalize the functioning of the thyroid gland, effectively fights endocrine diseases.

Watercress- a representative of the genus Klopovnik, an annual vegetable plant that is widely used in cooking and medicine. Watercress has a thin stem with many green leaves (see photo). Lettuce flowers come in white or pale purple hues. Young leaves of watercress are eaten, the stem of the plant should be white.

A green vegetable native to the Middle East region. Thanks to high palatability and unpretentiousness in care, this grass is grown almost all over the world. In many African countries, special varieties of vegetables are grown that contain a lot of oil, they are used to prepare medicinal oil, which is used for cosmetic and medical purposes.

Varieties of watercress

Watercress varieties are almost indistinguishable by seed to the inexperienced gardener, character traits visible after sowing. For example, the "curly" variety fully justifies its name.

Growing: planting and care

Growing watercress is easy. The fact is that it is one of the most unpretentious plants. At home, it can be grown on the windowsill, watercress grows well in cool, bright areas.

Most optimum time landing is considered March. But on the windowsill, this greenery can be grown year-round. Watercress is grown from seeds, they are densely sown in small boxes and filled with biosoil. The plant is considered early maturing, the upper leaves can be cut off after a few weeks. For good growth of a green vegetable, the air temperature should not exceed 10 degrees. At temperatures above 15 degrees, watercress blooms and loses its taste.

It is better to eat a young plant. The lack of light has a detrimental effect on the plant, in which case watercress can shed its leaves and stretch. The plant needs to be watered abundantly. Cut the lettuce leaves with a sharp knife.

Experts recommend using germinated watercress seeds: this way more biologically active substances. To do this, the seeds are placed on wet paper or gauze, after 3-6 days the germinated seeds are eaten. Thus, grass can be grown even without soil, simply by wrapping the seeds in wet gauze.

Beneficial features

Useful properties of watercress are explained by its composition. Almost 90% of it consists of water, which is due to low calorie plants and its value in dietary nutrition. The calorie content of the product is only 32 kilocalories per 100 grams. Watercress contains necessary for the body vitamins, making it an important addition to the spring diet.

The vitamin composition of watercress is represented by vitamins A, B, C, D, K, PP. The plant contains many essential minerals, among them phosphorus, magnesium, iron, calcium. The use of a green vegetable stimulates appetite, removes toxins from the body, normalizes blood pressure.

Traditional medicine recommends using the juice from the plant to prevent anemia. Watercress juice is considered an effective anti-scorbutic, general tonic. This vegetable is also used for heart diseases. The juice of the plant is good for colds, in some recipes it is recommended to gargle with a sore throat. Lettuce detoxifies and cleanses the body. Useful substances of watercress act as antioxidants, slow down the aging process.

Use in cooking

In cooking, watercress is used as green component many dishes. For example, very often the Germans add this vegetable to unleavened salads, in which it brings its characteristic taste, making the dish tastier and healthier. The taste of watercress is a bit bitter and pungent, many unaware people easily confuse watercress with horseradish. Among the people, the plant is even known under the name "horseradish" and "pepper", which fully reflects its spicy taste.

Watercress is well known European cuisine. Fresh leaves of a green vegetable are put in sandwiches, added to salads. The leaves of the plant contain a large amount mustard oil, but still the taste of watercress is not as spicy. Probably the most interesting cooking and serving watercress is found in China: here it is served with sugar, which for many is unusual in taste.

The leafy vegetable goes well with meat and fish. The taste of watercress is reminiscent of horseradish, mustard and radish at the same time. Gourmets claim that spicy plant will add spice to any dish.

Watercress benefits and treatment

The benefits of the plant were known to the physicians of ancient Rome and Egypt. Powder from crushed watercress seeds was used instead of mustard plasters. In ancient Egypt, lettuce was considered an aphrodisiac and was used to treat the lack of sexual desire in men and women. Hippocrates believed that the vegetable is able to purify the blood, increase the body's resistance.

Known since ancient times, watercress has been studied by modern scientists. In the course of regular studies, a green vegetable was recognized as capable of reducing damage to the DNA of blood cells, and it is also a good prevention. oncological diseases. modern medicine recommends the use of watercress to prevent cataracts.

The herb is used to treat prostatitis, so watercress leaves are useful for men of any age. Thanks to the vitamin B group, lettuce helps to relieve nervous diseases.

According to folk recipes, a medicinal ointment is prepared from watercress, which helps with allergic reactions, scrofula, and scabies. The ointment is applied to the affected areas until complete recovery. Watercress root is used for fever. To do this, it is pre-crushed.

Harm of watercress and contraindications

A green vegetable is contraindicated for people who have gastritis, colitis. Although doctors unambiguously recommend adding to daily ration dishes from greens and vegetables, but, as for watercress, in addition to being useful, it also may cause allergic reactions, skin irritation.

There is evidence that lettuce can harm people with frequent urination. In addition, you should not eat too much watercress: overeating can cause digestive problems.

Calories: 32 kcal.

The energy value of the product Watercress (Proportion of proteins, fats, carbohydrates):

Proteins: 2.6 g (~10 kcal) Fats: 0.7 g (~6 kcal) Carbohydrates: 4.4 g (~18 kcal)

Energy ratio (b|g|y): 33%|20%|55%

Watercress: properties

How much does Watercress cost (average price per 1 kg.)?

Moscow and Moscow region 333 r.

Watercress, being an annual herbaceous plant, at the time of its maximum growth reaches a height of 50 centimeters, but this rarely happens, since it is eaten quite young. Watercress can be called a unique culture, because it is of interest not only to gardeners, but also to culinary specialists. Interestingly, this type of lettuce does not require special care, so it is often grown on the windowsill in a city apartment. It grows wonderfully in ordinary pots, side by side with house plants. In food, it is almost always used in its raw form, due to the fact that in dried form, the beneficial properties of watercress are lost, and its peculiar aroma is not best converted into an unpleasant odor.

Gourmets say that watercress can turn any dish into gourmet delicacy. Green lettuce sprouts are used in cooking various salads and cold soups. It is also good as a seasoning or garnish for fish and meat dishes, cheese, sausages. Enriching food with vitamins, watercress improves the taste of potatoes, scrambled eggs or scrambled eggs.

The benefits of watercress

It is no secret that this small plant hides a great vitality. The benefits of watercress lie in the content of such vital mineral salts as potassium, calcium, iron, copper and magnesium, along with vitamins K, E, C, B, D and A. Recently, watercress has been ranked among the foods that have anti-cancer properties. European scientists say that eating this salad can prevent damage to blood cells, therefore, save us from such a terrible disease as blood cancer. I would love to believe them.

Given the fact that watercress has a slight diuretic effect, the use of this plant is very useful for hypertensive patients. By the way, even in ancient times, men used watercress with pleasure before going on a romantic date, as they believed that it was a good aphrodisiac and a stimulant to maintain potency.

Watercress has not bypassed the area of ​​beauty, that is, cosmetology, where this plant is very respectful. Young sprout extract is often an important component of many cosmetics, which act on the epidermis as an antioxidant. For aging skin, the benefits of watercress are manifested by daily wiping the face with ice cubes made from a mixture of mineral water and this wonderful juice.

Harm of watercress

The harm of watercress to consumers is practically unknown and can affect only in case of individual rejection of this food product, expressed in various allergic reactions.

Product proportions. How many grams?

The nutritional value

Spices

Watercress: composition, benefits and properties, application

If you ask nerds what is watercress, then they will say that this is an annual cruciferous herb, and this will be the correct answer. However, for people far from science, it is important that this herb is very easy to grow - anywhere and at any time of the year, and add it to various dishes, which become much tastier and healthier from this. And in fact, watercress can be grown even in a city apartment in winter - on the windowsill, and please yourself and your family with delicious fresh herbs.

Meanwhile, watercress has been known to people since ancient times, and its history is no less rich than its vitamin and mineral composition.

Even in ancient Greek and Roman chronicles, the beneficial properties of this edible herb are described; Hippocrates claimed that watercress had medicinal properties- purifies the blood and restores vitality to the sick. In ancient Egypt, watercress seed oil was used to treat sexual coldness in men and women, with good results. In the Middle Ages, lettuce began to be grown in Europe, and it was especially loved in Germany.

There are several types of watercress: there is curly, with heavily cut leaves, ripening very quickly; there is a whole-leaved one - it is larger and ripens late; sowing watercress belongs to the early ripening varieties, and is better known - its leaves are large and poorly dissected. The color of lettuce leaves is different: yellowish-green, green or slightly bluish.

Many people like watercress because its taste is spicy, spicy, bitter and slightly spicy: to some it resembles horseradish - and it is called horseradish, and to some - mustard, and botanists believe that the taste of this plant is mixed.

In the spring, watercress grows earlier than many green vegetables, since it is not afraid of frosts, it is undemanding to soils, and it grows very quickly.

Composition of watercress

The chemical composition of all varieties of this salad is almost the same, and has only minor differences, so you can choose any variety for yourself and grow it for your pleasure.

There are a lot of vitamins and other useful substances in watercress, and their combinations have developed very well. These are carotene, vitamins A, E, C, K, D, PP, B vitamins - almost everything; minerals - phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron, iodine; proteins, sugars, carbohydrates, essential oils, propsoline glycoside and lepidin alkaloid, flavonoids and fatty oil.

The benefits and properties of watercress

What properties of watercress are useful for us? If you use it regularly, it does a lot of good in our body: improves appetite and regulates digestion, removes toxins and toxins, normalizes blood pressure.

AT folk medicine it has long been used as a tonic and anti-inflammatory agent, as well as a diuretic, expectorant, sedative, wound healing, anti-sclerotic.

Watercress has antioxidant properties, relieves depression and improves sleep.

Lettuce leaves in folk medicine were used to treat wounds and ulcers, burns, skin diseases; colds - especially bronchitis and persistent cough; cholelithiasis; pain in the joints.

As an aid watercress was used in the treatment of prostatitis and cancer. Men were encouraged to consume unripe plant seeds or their alcohol tincture - it was believed that this increases sexual activity.

Modern medicine has found substances in watercress that ensure the integrity of the structure of blood cells - thus, the likelihood of developing blood cancer when eating lettuce is sharply reduced.

Decoctions, tinctures and infusions are prepared from the seeds, leaves and roots of watercress, oil is made using fresh or dried plants. There is usually no shortage of fresh leaves, since it is easy to grow lettuce - you can use it as early as a week after the sprouts appear. The simplest thing is to eat watercress 2-4 times a day, or drink juice - 1-2 tablespoons each, but regularly, almost every day - this will already improve health and get a therapeutic effect.

For the treatment of acne and pustules, crushed into gruel is used. fresh herbs lettuce - it is applied to the affected areas and fixed with bandages. For dandruff, fresh juice is rubbed into the scalp, and for skin problems, it is added to bath water.

With edema, mastopathy, prostatitis, redness and peeling of the skin, lettuce juice is taken orally, and at the same time compresses are made on problem areas with its chopped greens.

For colds, you can put mustard plasters, in which, instead of mustard, watercress seed powder is used.

An ointment prepared on the basis of lettuce is applied externally, as well as oil prepared from its seeds. watercress oil in pure form You won’t be able to cook at home, as this requires special equipment, but you can infuse the seeds in vegetable oil. Oil should be 2 times more than seeds.

To prepare an ointment, the dried leaves or roots of watercress are ground into powder and mixed with fat or petroleum jelly - 1: 3. Both oil and ointment should be kept in a warm place for at least a week before use.

Instead of juice, you can use infusions and decoctions of watercress. To cook them, you need to take 3 tbsp. fresh leaves, or 2 tbsp. dry, and brew them with a glass of boiling water. The infusion is ready when the brewed leaves stand for 2-3 hours in a warm place or in a thermos.

To get a decoction, you need to bring the leaves to a boil, simmer for 5-7 minutes on low heat, and then cool. Take before meals, 1/3 cup; if you suffer from insomnia or anxiety, then they also drink before bedtime.

You can just eat a salad every day, and then sleep will improve, and the destructive effects of stress will decrease.

With bronchitis and a strong cough, a decoction or infusion is drunk hot, several times a day. Due to the high iodine content, watercress maintains normal activity of the thyroid gland, preventing the development of endocrine diseases. If you combine the use of watercress with juices while dieting for weight loss, then the weight is reduced much easier, and at the same time the body is not harmed - the salad compensates for the lack of other products and saturates, eliminating the feeling of hunger.

To prevent periodontal disease and other dental diseases, you need to eat young watercress every day; you can eat sprouted seeds instead of greens.

Watercress in cosmetology

In cosmetology, both watercress itself and its juice and oil are used: all these derivatives are good for skin and hair care - the hair becomes healthy and beautiful, and the skin is cleansed and refreshed. The use of masks with watercress is especially effective for acne and pimples. In beauty salons, it is used in combination with other plant components as part of anti-inflammatory serums.

Homemade watercress masks

At home, it is also easy to make masks with watercress and other products, if you show a little patience. Of course, all components of the masks must be fresh.

With contaminated and oily skin covered with acne, a mask of fresh boiled lettuce leaves is useful.

Washed and chopped leaves are poured with water so that they are barely covered, and boiled for about 5 minutes over low heat, then cooled and applied to the face for 5 minutes. Wash off the mask with water at room temperature.

For oily skin, a mask of fresh chopped watercress leaves with egg white and honey.

Mix 2 tbsp. chopped greens with honey (1 tsp) and one protein, and apply on the face for 10-12 minutes. Wash with water at room temperature.

At normal skin fresh lettuce leaves (8-10 pieces) are mashed, olive oil (1 tsp) and lemon juice (5-10 drops) are added. Apply to the face and keep for about 10 minutes. Wash off first with warm and then cool water.

Smoothes fine wrinkles and improves complexion lettuce leaves(2 tablespoons) and the same amount of curdled milk. Mix the ingredients thoroughly and apply on the face for 10 minutes. Rinse off as in the previous mask. You can wipe the skin with an ice cube.

Soothes the skin and removes peeling mask from salad with cream. Chopped lettuce leaves (3-4 pieces) are mixed with heavy cream and grind until a slurry is obtained. Apply on the face for 10-12 minutes. Wash off as described above.

Watercress in cooking

In cooking, watercress has been used for a long time and very widely, but in Russia it is not yet as popular as, for example, in Western Europe: there it is combined with meat and fish dishes, prepare soups, salads, soufflés, gravies and sauces, seasoning for second courses and cold appetizers from it. They like to eat salad raw, and vegetarians also blanch it, cook it with wine and sugar, with oil dressings.

Can be cooked with watercress stews, cottage cheese casseroles and omelettes, and sandwiches with it are not just tasty and low-calorie - they are very beautiful and look great on the table. Dishes with watercress are very suitable for those who want to get rid of a few kilograms of excess weight.

Many people think that watercress dishes are boring and monotonous, but they can decorate any festive table and easy to become part of the daily menu.

Normal cabbage salad will become bright and appetizing if you add fresh watercress to it. With finely chopped cabbage, rings onion, cucumbers and watercress, finely chopped parsley and basil are mixed, poured with olive oil or seasoned with sour cream - delicious and healthy salad ready. Instead of salt, it is better to use the juice of sour fruits or berries.

More satisfying and nutritious, but no less healthy dish there will be a salad with the addition of pumpkin seeds. First, prepare the dressing: beat the juice of half a lemon in a salad bowl with 1 tbsp. olive oil; then add 3 carrots, grated on fine grater, a bunch of watercress and mix. sprinkled on top boiled eggs(2 pcs.), grated on coarse grater. Pour a few drops into the pan vegetable oil, pour pumpkin seeds(1 tbsp), fry for 2 minutes, then add honey (1 tsp), remove and sprinkle over the salad.

Fresh lettuce can be eaten all winter if the seeds are sown every 12-15 days. Watercress leaves grow back quickly, so they can be constantly cut and added to various dishes turning them into healthy and tasty delicacies.

Gataulina Galina

Watercress. Beneficial features. Growing on a windowsill

Irina17.03.2014 Watercress. Beneficial features. Growing on a windowsill

Dear readers, I have news for you. I hope they are pleasant. In the near future, we will discuss on my blog how you can grow greens on your windowsill. How do you like this idea? I like her very much. We all understand perfectly well that spring is the time when we need to reinforce ourselves, our loved ones with vitamins and microelements. And not everyone has the opportunity to do this in summer cottages, and it is still far from growing greenery on them. I suggest that all of us now turn our window sill into such a small vegetable garden. And strengthen the immune system, and please the eye. After all, to see how greenery appears before your eyes at home is always wonderful. It's great if you involve your children in this activity. It will also be useful for them to learn and see everything.

After reading all the information, you can grow everything yourself, ask questions if something doesn’t work out for you, get answers, and also participate in the Windowsill Garden contest, which I plan to host on my blog. I will publish the conditions of the competition in the very near future, but for now, take your camera and start taking pictures of all your steps. From planting greenery to the moment of harvest. I'm smiling. But I think the idea is clear. The competition will be very simple, accessible to everyone. All prizes are cash.

How will everything happen now? You and I will grow watercress, green onion, parsley, dill and spinach. If you don't like something, don't worry. Choose for yourself only what will be useful and interesting to you.

And Alena Fedorenchik will acquaint and teach all of us the intricacies of growing greens. She will help all of us with advice if something is not clear. Alena maintains her website family table This project is dedicated to the topic family meals and how they can be used to strengthen family relationships, in the first place - the attachment of children to their parents.

1. watercress,
2. green onion,
3. parsley, dill and spinach.

And at the end of the cycle of such articles, you will also find many useful things from Alena. I won't talk about everyone now. Follow the articles in the "Garden on the windowsill" section. I pass the floor to Alena.

And I want to start, perhaps, with the easiest plant to grow - watercress. Let me tell you a little about its useful properties.

Watercress. Beneficial features.

Despite the rather unattractive appearance- a long stem with a small bunch of leaves at the top - this plant is rich in many beneficial substances. Watercress contains salts of calcium, iron, phosphorus, iodine, potassium and others, mustard essential oil (it is this that gives the plant its characteristic taste and smell), B vitamins and a large percentage of vitamin C. Thanks to the latter, watercress is even used as an antiscorbutic agent . Watercress also helps improve sleep, appetite and digestion, cope with coughs and even increased blood pressure. Plus, it has an antimicrobial effect, due to which it is used in traditional medicine (as part of ointments) for wound healing.

Well, I hope I have already inspired you to try growing this wonderful plant at home. And now I’ll tell you how we can grow watercress at home.

Watercress. Growing on a windowsill. A photo

Watercress is remarkable in that you don't even have to use soil to grow it. In fact, you can use any dish (plate, bowl, plastic container), on the bottom of which a substrate is placed - cotton wool, a sponge, and even paper towel. I myself germinated my first cress seeds on a paper towel.

So what needs to be done:

• we take the substrate we have at home from those listed above,
• we lay it on the bottom of the selected dish with a layer of at least 1.5-2 cm,
• we saturate it with water (it is best to take already settled tap water) - not much, because we will add more water when sowing.

Our base for sowing is ready. Then we take ourselves watercress seeds, pour them into a container and fill with a small amount of water. You will see: the water will, as it were, enclose each grain in a shell - this is done in order to evenly distribute the seeds, because they are sown densely. And then we just carefully pour the water along with the seeds onto our prepared surface, trying to ensure that the seeds lie on it in one row and more or less evenly.

You don't need to do anything else with the seeds themselves. We cover the top of our container cling film or an ordinary plastic bag to create a greenhouse effect, and put it on the windowsill away from the battery and in a semi-shaded place (cress does not need a lot of light and does not like heat very much either).

Watercress seeds hatch quite quickly - usually within a day, and sprouts appear after another day. Then we remove the film and then we just take care of the seedlings: we regularly water them (watercress loves moisture very much), spray them with water from a spray bottle to increase humidity, and turn around the axis by 180o daily so that the stems do not stretch in one direction.

Watercress is usually ready to eat about 2 weeks after sowing, when the stems reach a height of 6-8 cm.

As you can see, everything is quite simple.

How to grow watercress in soil?

If you want to do everything by the rules and grow watercress in the soil, then here's what you need:

1. Flower pot - plastic or ceramic, the main thing is that there are holes in the bottom for draining excess water. For cress, you can choose low pots, because it does not need a high layer of soil.

2. Drainage - it is placed on the bottom of the pot 2-3 cm high.

3. It is advisable to take the soil itself, which contains vermicompost. I personally took just universal.

The soil is poured onto the drainage with a layer of 2-4 cm, and cress seeds are poured onto it, in the same way as described above.

Then the seeds are sprinkled with a thin layer of soil - 0.5-1 cm, which is still slightly moistened, and also covered with a film. We do everything else in exactly the same way as in the first option described above. The only thing is that sprouts may appear a day later, because. they still need to grow through a layer of soil. And when we remove the film, then the care of our watercress will also be no different from that described above in the first version.

Actually, this is all you need to know for the successful cultivation of watercress. I just want to add that watercress does not re-grow after cutting, so, to get a continuous harvest, it is usually sown every 10-14 days (it can be in the same soil, it can be in a new pot).

Good luck with your growing!

I want to thank Alena for such a master class. Just a miracle! Everything is so step by step, detailed, everything is very clear. Just don't be lazy.

Audio - supplement to the magazine "Fragrances of happiness".

Dear readers, do you know what else there is news for all of us? An audio supplement to our spring issue "Fragrances of Happiness" has been released. I hope you are familiar with our magazine. If not yet, be sure to subscribe to it. And you will immediately receive our latest number in the mail. You can look through it, download it to your computer, and now also listen to it for those who do not have time. You can subscribe to our magazine here: http://irinazaytseva.ru/aromatu_s4astia We also put beauty and sincerity into the subscription page. For a long time I was looking for something that would personally please me. I hope you too. It's nice that subscribers write to me: “Irina, I look at your page, as if spellbound. This music has been playing for an hour, and I can't get enough of it. Thank you". How I love those words.

Our magazine was voiced by Yulia Gabdulina and Ekaterina Gerasimova. One article was voiced by the author, Lyudmila Potsepun.

All subscribers of the magazine will receive a link to download the audio application. If you have not subscribed to the magazine yet, then you can do it on the subscription page http://irinazaytseva.ru/aromatu_s4astia I wish you a pleasant viewing and listening to all the articles of our magazine.

My heartfelt gift for today George Davidson Marriage D'Amour Wonderful music and beautiful video.

I wish you all health, joy, new pleasant spring troubles.