Watercress salad - what is it and what is it eaten with?

As you know, the environment in the modern world has deteriorated greatly. Therefore, many people resort to proper nutrition, try to monitor their health and consume as many vitamins and minerals as possible. One of these useful products is the hero of today’s article, the properties of which were considered incredibly healing and divine back in Ancient Rome.

Watercress is a herbaceous annual plant. It is popularly called horseradish or bedbug for its specific bitter taste. This plant was previously considered exotic, but now it can be found in almost every garden plot in our country. Watercress has become widespread due to its rapid growth, resistance to cold, unpretentiousness, beneficial properties, vitamins and minerals.

The plant can be consumed in any form: both fresh and cooked. It is often used to treat various diseases. In addition, it is very easy to grow or find lettuce at the market.

Types of watercress

In nature, salad comes in three types:

1. Whole-leaved - has a large horizontal rosette of leaves up to 23 cm and a height of up to 5 cm. The most famous representatives of this species include Dukat ultra-early ripening and Broad-leaved early ripening.
2. Curly - has heavily indented leaves and a rosette raised to 18 cm. Popular representatives of this species are Openwork and Curly Cress.
3. Sowing - has a gap between the forks, the leaves are slightly cut.

Composition of watercress

Nutritional value 100 g:

• Calorie content: 32 kcal
• Proteins: 2.6 g
• Fat: 0.7 g
• Carbohydrates: 4.4 g

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• Dietary fiber: 1.1 g
• Ash: 1.8 g
• Water: 89.4 g
• Mono- and disaccharides: 4.4 g
• Saturated fatty acids: 0.023 g

Vitamins:

• Beta-carotene: 4.15 mg
• Vitamin A (VE): 346 mcg
• Vitamin B1 (thiamine): 0.08 mg
• Vitamin B2 (riboflavin): 0.26 mg
• Vitamin B3 (pantothenic): 0.242 mg
• Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine): 0.247 mg
• Vitamin B9 (folic): 80 mcg
• Vitamin C: 69 mg
• Vitamin E (TE): 0.7 mg
• Vitamin K (phylloquinone): 541.9 mcg
• Vitamin PP (Niacin equivalent): 1 mg
• Choline: 19.5 mg

Macronutrients:

• Calcium: 81 mg
• Magnesium: 38 mg
• Sodium: 14 mg
• Potassium: 606 mg
• Phosphorus: 76 mg

Microelements:

• Iron: 1.3 mg
• Zinc: 0.23 mg
• Copper: 170 mcg
• Manganese: 0.553 mg
• Selenium: 0.9 mcg

The beneficial properties of watercress are very valuable and can be explained by the very composition of this herb.
It is very rich in vitamins A, E, C, PP, D, B. It is also not deprived of minerals. It contains: iron, magnesium, iodine, calcium, phosphorus, copper and many others. In addition to these substances, watercress also contains beneficial glycosides, flavonoids, alkaloids and essential oils. Culinary experts believe that watercress, thanks to its excellent taste, can transform any dish into a masterpiece. It is used in the preparation of cold soups, a variety of salads, as a side dish or seasoning for meat, fish dishes, potatoes or scrambled eggs.

Composition and calorie content

Watercress contains a huge amount of beneficial vitamins and minerals that are not found in any other greens.

Salad composition – complex:

• from carotene;
• vitamins A, C, PP, S, K;
• almost complete composition of B vitamins;
• large amounts of magnesium, iodine, iron and calcium;
• proteins and carbohydrates;
• essential oils.

Greens contain minerals and vitamins that allow them to be used not only for culinary purposes, but also for improving health.

Watercress is an excellent choice for dieters looking to lose weight. This can be explained by the fact that the calorie content of the salad is extremely low and amounts to only 32 kcal, which is good news.

Use in folk medicine

Watercress is a medicinal plant. In Ancient Egypt, Rome, and Greece, it was used as a wound-healing agent and was used to treat scabies, fever, and scurvy. With its help you can get rid of worms, excessive sweating, skin diseases and many other pathologies.

Most popular recipes:

• To improve digestion. Pour a teaspoon of chopped shoots into a glass of boiling water. Take 100 ml before meals.
• For wound healing. Mix the washed leaves with ghee (1:5) and apply a thick layer to the affected area. You can put a bandage on top.
• For bronchitis and coughing attacks, 3 tbsp. Brew spoons of watercress in a glass, leave for 2 hours and strain. Take 2 tbsp before meals. spoons.
• For gum diseases (periodontal disease), take 1 tbsp. a spoonful of fresh leaves per day, chewing thoroughly.
• For mastopathy. At night, apply a compress of crushed leaves with a small addition of honey to the seal areas (for bonding).

What are the benefits of watercress?

General benefit

Note that the benefits of salad were noted in ancient Rome. The leaves of the plant were used to treat various diseases. This plant is still a treasure trove for improving human health, as it:

• reduces the risk of cancer;
• ideal for people losing weight due to its low calorie content;
• improves the functioning of the digestive tract and removes everything unnecessary;
• tones the human body;
• is a real aphrodisiac for men;
• improves brain activity and speeds up its work;
• slows down the aging process of the body;
• improves vision;
• prevents cataracts;
• improves liver function.

For men

The plant is incredibly useful for improving sexual performance in men. For this purpose, unripe lettuce seeds are used. In addition, an alcohol tincture from this plant is considered valuable for the male half of the population for its ability to cure potency, prostatitis and increase sexual arousal.

For women

It is very difficult to find at least one lady who would be completely satisfied with her appearance and would not want to lose weight. Is not it? And this is where watercress can come to the rescue. Its calorie content is very low, which will ensure real weight loss.

In addition, salad helps improve the quality of hair and skin. We can say that it has anti-aging properties. Also, masks from the plant help fight various skin diseases.

During pregnancy

A unique and happy time in the life of any woman is pregnancy. Of course, during this period you need to choose your food products as carefully as possible. Therefore, doctors recommend that pregnant women include watercress in their diet. If you add these greens to your dishes, you can improve the functioning of the digestive tract and prevent diarrhea. But here it is very important to ensure that the expectant mother is not allergic to the plant.

When breastfeeding

Watercress is a strong allergen. It can be eaten by a breastfeeding mother, provided that the baby is not allergic to it. Before you start adding greens to your diet, you should consult your pediatrician.

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For children

It is advisable to add watercress to the diet no earlier than three years, as the plant can negatively affect the condition of the gastric mucosa. It is very important to ensure that the child is not allergic to this product.

Watercress improves a child's mood and strengthens the immune system. At the first symptoms of colds, you need to give your baby an infusion of the leaves several times a day or use them as mustard plasters. Since the drink has an expectorant effect, it can be used to treat severe coughs. Therefore, during the season of mass epidemics, you should not forget about watercress, because it will help your child stay healthy throughout the most severe cold and frost.

For the elderly

Grandparents often grow watercress in their garden, because its leaves relieve poor health, improve the functioning of the digestive and cardiovascular systems, normalize blood pressure, reduce nervous tension and relieve insomnia. For older people, this plant is also important because it lowers cholesterol levels in the blood, which helps avoid heart attacks, strokes and heart disease.

When losing weight

As noted earlier, watercress has low calorie content. Therefore, dishes made from its leaves are ideal for people who dream of losing weight. In addition, beneficial minerals and vitamins make greens an indispensable addition to various salads. What are the benefits of the leaves of the plant? Freshly squeezed juice improves digestion, which helps remove toxins from the body. As a result, losing weight will be easy, simple and relaxed.

Useful properties of watercress

Eating watercress has benefits for the entire human body. The beneficial properties of the herb have been known since the time of Hippocrates. Effects:

• anti-inflammatory;
• restorative;
• soothing;
• diuretic;
• expectorant.

The herb improves digestion, increases appetite, and reduces gas formation in the intestines. Cleanses the body of toxins and harmful metabolic products. Plant antioxidants help improve mood and normalize sleep. Watercress tincture has a positive effect on the skin, improving its condition and reducing the manifestations of skin diseases.

Greens have anti-carcinogenic properties and reduce the risk of cancer.

During pregnancy and lactation

Watercress is useful for pregnant women because it has a mild diuretic effect and reduces swelling of the legs. Fiber normalizes intestinal function and helps cope with constipation. It has a beneficial effect on hematopoiesis, preventing the development of anemia.

Breastfeeding women should eat grass with caution - an allergic reaction in the child is possible.

For children

Greens are good to give to children because they contain a lot of ascorbic acid. This increases the body's resistance to infections and colds. Carotene is good for the baby's vision, and B vitamins regulate the functioning of the nervous system.

Due to its iodine content, the herb regulates the functioning of the thyroid gland. The drug is used to treat dry cough with bronchitis or tracheitis.

For the elderly

Regular consumption of greens supports the health of an elderly person. The herb prevents the formation of atherosclerotic plaques and reduces joint pain. Serves as prevention of decreased visual acuity. Improves falling asleep, ensures complete sleep.

We recommend watching Elena Malysheva’s program about the benefits of greenery:

Watercress in medicine

The leaves of the plant relieve a huge number of diseases. Watercress is beneficial in the treatment of diarrhea, acne, oral diseases and cough. In addition, the leaves remove parasites from the body.

Here are some of the most popular recipes for home therapy:

1. An infusion of lettuce leaves can help get rid of eating disorders. To do this, pour 25 g of chopped greens into a glass of boiling water. Infuse the drink for 30–60 minutes. After this, strain the infusion. You need to drink the prepared decoction three times a day, a teaspoon before meals.
2. For breast problems, it is recommended to use dressings made from recently picked leaves. Finely chop the greens and apply to the sore spot. After a few hours, carefully remove the leaves and take a bath.
3. Watercress infusion also helps cure bronchitis or severe cough. To do this, you need to chop the leaves so that you get 3 tablespoons and pour a glass of boiling water. Next, strain the infusion. After this, it is ready for consumption. Drink the drink warm, 3 times a day before meals, 2 tablespoons.
4. The plant can be used to quickly heal external injuries. To do this you need to make a special ointment. Its preparation is not difficult. You need to take fresh leaves and grind them thoroughly, mixing with butter, melted in a frying pan in advance. Apply this mixture to damaged skin. It promotes rapid healing of scratches, abrasions and bruises.

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Watercress: benefits and harms

The beneficial properties of lettuce, as well as its contraindications for consumption, are determined by the natural chemical composition of the plant.

Composition of grass

The vitamin series is represented by almost all health benefits - A, C, E, K, D, PP, group B. Add to them substances that have a beneficial effect on the general condition of a person and are involved in the treatment of many diseases - iodine, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and iron.

There are sugars, carbohydrates and proteins, glycoside propsolin and lepidine - an alkaloid, bioflavonoids, essential and fatty oils. A real natural first aid kit for preserving the beauty and health of people! What is important is that the benefits of the plant are recognized not only by traditional medicine; official medicine also recognizes the participation of watercress in healing the body.

How is watercress useful?

• Able to remove harmful toxins from the body.
• Normalizes high blood pressure.
• Improves appetite and regulates the digestion process.
• It is used as a general tonic that improves the functioning of the immune system.
• Reduces depression and improves sleep.
• Has an antioxidant effect.
• Promotes rapid healing of wounds and burns.
• Treats some skin diseases.
• For severe coughs and bronchitis, it is used as an expectorant.
• Has a diuretic effect.
• It is a good preventative for eye diseases. Recent studies have shown that the plant successfully treats cataracts.
• Traditional medicine uses the property of watercress to relieve joint pain.
• If you have dental disease, in particular periodontal disease, it is very useful to eat fresh salad greens or plant sprouts every day.
• A recent scientific study showed that the plant contains substances that ensure the integrity of the structure of blood cells. This proves the effectiveness of the plant for the prevention and treatment of blood cancer.
• Due to the presence of large amounts of iodine, watercress will benefit the functioning of the thyroid gland and will become an excellent prophylactic agent that prevents the development of endocrine diseases.

Benefits for women

It is very useful for women to consume watercress because of its anti-aging effect. Herbal oil evens out wrinkles, especially small, facial wrinkles, and helps treat skin problems.

• Ice cubes with herbal decoction are used to improve skin tone and get rid of pimples.
• Dandruff. Rub the fresh juice of the plant into your scalp.

Combined with honey, lemon and oil, watercress can form the basis of a mask recipe for moisturizing and whitening the skin. For oily and acne-prone skin, the following mask will be useful:

1. Grind the leaves and mix with egg white. The applied mask is washed off after 5 minutes. You can also add honey to the mask.
2. For normal skin, to smooth out wrinkles and improve the color of your face, make a paste from the leaves and combine it with yogurt.

In confirmation, I suggest you watch a video about the miracle salad and the unique benefits of watercress for the fair half of humanity of the “velvet” age.

Benefits for men

For men, it is especially recommended to eat salad. Herbalists have long used the plant to treat prostatitis. And if it was necessary to enhance the sexual activity of a representative of the stronger sex, it was recommended to eat not quite ripe seeds of the plant. For the same purpose, an alcohol tincture of cress seeds is used.

Watercress for weight loss

Watercress is useful for everyone who wants to lose extra pounds. It does not have any properties that promote weight loss, but if you combine watercress juices and diet, then losing weight will be much easier. The plant compensates the body for the lack of nutrients, the amount of which decreases when following a diet, especially a strict one, and will help satisfy hunger.

Traditional recipes for using salad

From the leaves, roots, and seeds of cress, traditional healers prepare tinctures, decoctions, water infusions, and make healing oils, which have been successfully used for several centuries to treat many diseases.

• Acne, pustular diseases. Grind lettuce leaves into a paste and apply to the affected areas, securing with a bandage or bandage. A bath with a decoction of the plant gives a good effect.
• Cold. Make something like mustard plasters, but from lettuce seeds and apply them to the chest area to warm up. When coughing or bronchitis, make a decoction and drink hot.
• Swelling, mastopathy, prostatitis, peeling and redness of the skin. Make compresses from chopped salad greens and at the same time take the plant infusion internally.
• Insomnia, irritability. Take a third of a glass before meals, and the same amount shortly before bed.

Watercress oil : _ _

It is impossible to prepare oil from lettuce seeds in its pure form, since this requires special equipment. But you can make one of its variants, which has no less health benefits.

To do this, pour lettuce seeds crushed in a coffee grinder with vegetable oil in a ratio of 1 part to 2, and leave in a dark place for a week.

How to make cress ointment:

Grind the dried roots and leaves into powder and mix 1 part of it with 3 parts of Vaseline. The ointment will be ready for use after a week.

Infusion of lettuce leaves:

To prepare a water infusion, take 3 large spoons of fresh leaves or 2 dry ones and brew with a glass of boiling water, leave to stand for 2 - 3 hours.

Decoction of plant leaves:

Pour water over the leaves and bring to a boil, cook for five minutes and cool. Drink a third of a glass before meals.

Harm and contraindications

Watercress also has a downside: sometimes, instead of being beneficial, it can cause harm to health. Fortunately, there are very few contraindications:

• An allergic reaction, unfortunately, is quite common.
• If consumed uncontrolled, the plant can cause insomnia and even migraines.
• If you have low blood pressure, eating watercress will be harmful because it will lower it even more.
• Frequent urination is also a contraindication to consuming the plant.

Salads - recipes

I offer you two unusual recipes for preparing salads, which with the addition of watercress will become more piquant and brighter in taste.

Salad with cabbage and watercress

Chop cabbage, onions, cucumbers and watercress. Add basil, parsley and olive oil. If you want, season it with sour cream, it will be good too. When following a diet, use some sour juice instead of salt.

Salad with pumpkin seeds

1. Combine the juice of half a lemon and a spoonful of olive oil - this will be a salad dressing. Fry pumpkin seeds (a large spoon) for a couple of minutes in a small amount of oil, add a small spoon of honey and cool.
2. Mix chopped eggs, watercress, add finely grated carrots and pumpkin seeds, season everything and serve - very tasty!

I suggest you watch another video about the benefits and harms of wonderful watercress, which tells you what it is and what it is eaten with. Be healthy! With love... Galina Nekrasova.

Application in cosmetology

The healing properties of the plant are also used in cosmetology. It is difficult to refute them, because after its use the skin smoothes out, its tone becomes more even, and all inflammation goes away.

For hair

Watercress contains an element called sulfur. It is able to form keratin, which is so necessary for hair growth. If you suffer from a lot of dandruff, then freshly squeezed green juice will help you with this.

For facial skin

If you have problems with your facial skin, then you can make unique masks from watercress to eliminate them.

1. To get rid of blackheads, you will need lettuce leaves and water. Place in a saucepan and cook for 5 minutes. After the allotted time, we take out the leaves and wait until they cool down a little. After that, carefully place them on your face for 15 minutes. Afterwards, rinse thoroughly.
2. Do you have oily skin? No problem. The recipe is quite simple. Take 2 tablespoons of finely chopped lettuce leaves and mix with a teaspoon of honey. Add egg white to the mixture. After thoroughly stirring, apply the mask to the face. After 15 minutes, wash it off and rinse thoroughly.
3. Normal skin is not a reason to leave everything to chance and not take care of it. A mask made from crushed lettuce leaves, olive oil and a few drops of lemon juice will suit you. Keep it on your face for about 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
4. Is your skin tone uneven? We recommend a mask made from leaves, ground in a blender, and milk. 10 minutes after application, rinse thoroughly with warm water.
5. Very often the skin begins to peel, especially in the spring, when the body lacks vitamins. Take 10 mashed watercress leaves, heavy cream and stir thoroughly. Apply the mask to your face and wash off with warm water after 20 minutes.
6. To prevent skin problems, it is often recommended to use ice. To do this, add a little water and lemon juice to the lettuce leaves and blend thoroughly with a blender. Place the resulting puree into molds and place in the freezer. In the morning, wipe your face with ice to even out the color and make it healthier.

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Application of watercress

The plant is used in many areas of human life. Let's look at the main ones.

In cooking

Because watercress has a piquant, slightly spicy flavor, it is often added as a seasoning to dishes. However, it can also be used as an independent dish.

Several recipes using watercress:

1. Sauce . Take the greens, wash them and chop them. Mix it with 100 ml of olive oil, squeeze out lemon juice and add any pepper. This sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for a month.
2. Vegetable soup . Cut the potatoes into cubes, grate the carrots, and cut the onion into rings. Pour boiling water over the tomatoes, remove the skin and grate them too. Bring the water to a boil and add the potatoes. Fry the carrots and onions in butter, add the tomatoes and simmer for about five minutes. Pour the dressing into the potatoes and cook for another 10 minutes. After cooking, all that remains is to pour the soup into bowls and sprinkle with chopped watercress.
3. Garnish . Wash a bunch of greens and chop coarsely. Chop the pepper and fry in vegetable oil. Add watercress and simmer for five minutes. Salt and pepper to taste.

In folk medicine

For centuries, traditional healers have been using watercress to treat many ailments. For example, for conjunctivitis, the mucous membrane is washed with herbal tincture. For ulcers and wounds, apply a plant-based paste to the affected area. If you have dermatitis or eczema, then herbal tincture lotions will help. Even with bronchitis or a cold, a decoction of watercress leaves will come to the rescue. And for arthritis or arthrosis, you should make compresses from crushed grass.

Ointments are made from watercress that help with purulent skin lesions. To do this, take Vaseline and heat it in a water bath. Chopped greens are added to the resulting mass and mixed. The ointment is applied to the inflamed area.

Watercress in cooking

As you already understand, the plant has an original taste, so it is often used as an additive to various dishes. Vegetable leaves are often added to various salads, soups, casseroles, sandwiches and cocktails.

What do they eat with?

The plant is useful both fresh and cooked. Where should I add it?

1. Dried leaves are often used to season omelettes or fried eggs.
2. They can be added to fruit salads. Sprinkled with chopped leaves, the salad acquires an unusual taste.
3. The aroma of meat and fish dishes will perfectly highlight the smell of watercress.
4. If you are a fan of cheeses or cottage cheese, then you can experiment with adding this greenery. The dish will certainly sparkle with new colors.

It is imperative to introduce the plant into the diet slowly and systematically so as not to be disappointed in it. Then you will definitely be able to create original dishes from familiar recipes.

But it is still best to consume fresh greens, because they contain the largest amount of beneficial vitamins and minerals. In dried form, it is better to use it for other purposes.

Watercress can be added to your diet and eaten at any time of the day. Greens can also be fried, stewed or boiled if the recipe requires it. After collecting the leaves, it is advisable to eat them soon. Of course, you can store it in the refrigerator, but no more than 2 days.

The plant gives the dish a spicy taste and a specific smell. We recommend a delicious salad recipe with the addition of these greens, which will not leave you indifferent.

Vitamin salad

We will need:

• 100 g carrots;
• 200 g watercress leaves.
• For the sauce:
• 2 tbsp. olive oil;
• a tablespoon of honey;
• lemon juice;
• pumpkin seeds.

Grate the carrots on a fine grater and mix all the ingredients with the sauce in one large plate. Mix thoroughly and sprinkle with roasted pumpkin seeds. Bon appetit! This salad has a large number of the most beneficial properties and has an incredible unique taste.

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Types and varieties of watercress

There are three types of watercress: whole-leaf, curly and seed. The species, in turn, are divided into varieties, which we will now analyze.

Watercress with whole leaves includes 2 varieties:

1. Dukat . Characterized by rapid ripeness. It takes about 2 weeks from germination to full flowering. This plant grows up to 15 cm, and its diameter is 25 cm.
2. Broadleaf . On average it grows throughout the month. Reaches a length of 12 cm. The plant has delicate leaves, a bright green color and a piquant taste.

The curly variety includes:

1. Openwork . Can be consumed after 20 days. Grows up to 25 cm. This variety is excellent for growing in open ground, in a greenhouse or at home.
2. Curly . Reaches ripeness only after 40 days. It reaches a height of 20 cm. The whole plant, including young shoots, is added to food.

The sowing species include:

1. Fun . This variety can also be grown at home. The plant will ripen quickly, so you won't have to wait long to taste it. This seasoning will add piquancy to your dishes.
2. Dansky This variety is the fastest ripening. After 10 days it can be eaten. The grass copes well with short-term cold weather. It has a high content of iron, vitamin C, calcium and iodine.
3. Kurled . This variety is characterized by high yield and early ripeness. It has a pungent taste similar to mustard. Can be added to food 17 days after sunrises appear.

Harm and contraindications

Naturally, the benefits of watercress for preparing dishes and masks are beyond doubt. However, like any other plants, it can cause not only benefits to the human body, but also harm:

1. If you add too much watercress to various dishes, you may experience frequent headaches and insomnia.
2. It is not advisable for people suffering from low blood pressure to include this greenery in their diet. Its excess in the body can lower blood pressure several times, which is very dangerous.
3. The plant is a strong allergen. Therefore, the leaves should be used very carefully. To avoid stumbling upon an unexpected allergy, you should do a test before eating greens for the first time. Drip the juice of the leaves onto your skin and wait for the body to respond. If everything is fine, then you can enjoy your vitamins.

Naturally, it is important to know when to stop in everything. Greens will not harm human health if you do not exceed your daily intake. Adults are advised to consume no more than 100 g of the product per day, and children - no more than 50 g. Before eating the plant, it is best to consult a doctor.

It is very important and interesting that adding leaves to your daily meal reduces the risk of blood cancer.

Watercress salad contraindications

Despite the huge amount of useful substances in the composition of the product in question, if consumed regularly, it can be harmful to some people. This primarily applies to allergy sufferers. Such people should consume watercress with special care, starting with small doses of greens. If the diet is incorrectly prepared, the product causes skin irritation and a rash may appear on the skin.

Why is watercress harmful for other people who do not suffer from allergies? First of all, it is insomnia and headaches. Despite the enormous benefits of the product for the body, it is recommended to take no more than 85 grams per day. It is also not advisable to eat plant leaves that are collected along dusty roads or railway tracks. If grass grows in such conditions, it will absorb toxic substances into its cells as it develops.

In addition to these prohibitions, there are contraindications for consuming watercress for people with the following symptoms:

• frequent urination;
• if the patient has urolithiasis (regular consumption of greens can cause the movement of stones);

• gastritis or colitis, a more serious disease - stomach ulcer;
• respiratory tract diseases, including bronchial asthma and tuberculosis;
• with low blood pressure in hypertensive patients.

Important! Before consuming green bugs, it is advisable for each specific case to consult a doctor.

Watercress is an unusually healthy plant. If there are no contraindications, include it in your diet, but do not exceed the recommended doses. Leaves of the plant grown in a favorable environment, in your own garden or on the windowsill of a city apartment, are suitable for consumption. Wilted or dry bedbug does not have any beneficial properties; it is better to remove such a product from the diet. Use grown raw materials only in fresh form.

Also read: Varieties of lettuce

How to select and store

The plant is sold at the market or on supermarket shelves. As you now know, watercress comes in different types and varieties, so its leaves are completely different. When buying greens, it is important to evaluate their quality by touch. You need to ensure that the leaves are fresh, strong, whole, without holes or damage. You should not add limp or dried leaves to dishes, because the vitamin content in them decreases to a minimum. Strange spots or growths are a signal that the plant is sick. It should not be purchased under any circumstances.

If you intend to use the greens after some time, it is best to wrap them in thick paper. If this is not possible, then you can take polyethylene bags, but you need to make small holes in them in advance so that air can flow inside. You should not wash the greens right away, because then they will begin to rot faster and will soon deteriorate. The best option for storing greens is a food container. In it, the leaves will not wrinkle much and will retain their beneficial properties for a long time. Greens should be stored in the refrigerator. After the leaves are picked from the garden, they remain juicy for a week. Therefore, storing the plant for longer than 7 days does not make any sense.

Is it possible to freeze

Of course, it is quite possible to freeze watercress. However, in the case of this plant, its leaves, which are removed from the freezer in winter, will lose their beautiful appearance and extraordinary taste. Therefore, if you want to enjoy a crispy and juicy salad, it will be better to grow greens on the windowsill all winter. It's easy and very convenient.

If you still want to freeze lettuce leaves, you can do this in different ways:

• whole;
• finely chopped to a paste;
• in small pieces, mixed with ice.

After defrosting watercress leaves over the winter, it is important to use them immediately after opening the containers. Secondary freezing will completely ruin the raw materials.

Is it possible to dry

Any greens can easily be dried for the winter. Watercress is no exception. It is not difficult. You will need:

1. Carefully select the healthiest, youngest, undamaged and juicy leaves for drying.
2. Carefully cut off the rhizomes of the plants.
3. Rinse under clean water.
4. Dry with a ladle.
5. Place on paper towels.
6. Wait until the plant dries.
7. Next, dry the leaves in the oven and place them in a dark and cool place.
8. Place the resulting mixture in a glass container and close tightly.

In winter, the leaves will not give off the same smell as they did in summer. However, all useful substances and minerals will remain and will saturate your body.

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What is watercress

Watercress is a vegetable herb used for culinary and medicinal purposes. It is called differently in different countries:

• in Ukraine - watercress, watercress;
• Georgia - tsitsmati;
• Armenia - Cotham;
• Afghanistan - tertizak.

In Russia, the greens were called “horseradish” or “pepper pepper” for their spicy taste. Watercress contains a large amount of minerals and vitamins:

• B vitamins;
• ascorbic acid;
• carotene;
• calcium;
• potassium;
• magnesium;
• iron.

Mustard oil gives the plant an spicy taste. Calorie content of grass - 32 kcal per 100 grams; contains proteins - 2.6 grams, carbohydrates - 5.5 grams, fats - 0.7 grams.

The highest concentration of useful substances is contained in microgreens - the first leaves of a young plant.

Watercress is a bioindicator of soil and air pollution. The grass is sensitive to the content of nitrates, carbon monoxide, and heavy elements. In laboratories it is used to assess soil and air quality.

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Types and varieties of grass

There are several varieties of water lettuce, differing in appearance and ripening time:

• early ripening Azhur is characterized by bizarrely shaped leaves, the rosette reaches 15 cm in diameter, and tastes slightly spicy;
• Dukat is a late-ripening variety with whole leaves, a large rosette up to 20 cm, a spicy, mustard taste;
• Zabava and Danish salad are characterized by precocity, the leaves are large, slightly dissected;
• Kurled is the earliest ripening variety with a sharp mustard taste;
• large-leaf varieties ripen longer, but have a pronounced taste;
• narrow-leaved is suitable for home cultivation and has a tart taste.

The leaves are green in color, some varieties have a red edge. The flowers are small, white or pink. This is an early spring crop, the greens ripen in late April - early May. It blooms throughout June, and the pod fruits ripen in the fall.

The grass is resistant to cold, so it can be sown even in winter.

How to grow watercress on a windowsill

This is a great way to have fresh watercress leaves all winter long. There are two ways to grow a plant: using a substrate and using soil.

So, to grow lettuce using the first method, you must follow the following instructions:

1. Place the substrate on the bottom of the container. The level of the embankment must be at least 2 cm. It is necessary to add a little boiling water to prevent mold from appearing in the future.
2. Take any vessel and pour watercress grains into it. Fill them completely with warm water. This is necessary for the seed to acquire some kind of capsule.
3. After some time, transfer the grains to a container prepared in advance. This must be done as carefully as possible so that the seeds are distributed evenly throughout the layer.
4. Wrap the container with the seeds in cling film to create a greenhouse effect. Place it near a window where the sun's rays do not reach. You also need to take into account that there are no hot batteries nearby.
5. After 24 hours, check the seeds. You should see small fruit sprouts appearing. After a day, you can remove the film, because real sprouts will appear.

The plant is very easy to care for. It only requires daily watering and turning the container around itself so that the sprouts do not stretch to one side. You can feed the greens with various fertilizers, which they happily accept.

After half a month, the watercress is ready to eat.

How to grow watercress using soil:

1. Pour soil into the vessel, 5 centimeters high. After this, carefully distribute it so that the rows are even and the distance between them does not exceed 20 centimeters. You can make everything much easier by simply pouring the grains from the container onto the soil and covering them with a thin layer of soil.
2. Cover the vessel with the future harvest with film. It is necessary to ensure that the room temperature does not fall below 18°C. You will have to wait a little longer for the sprouts, because they grow through a layer of soil. This will make the plant healthier and stronger, because its root will become stronger and will not stretch.
3. Caring for sowing is no different from the first method. Timely watering and fertilizing are the main elements for growing juicy and tasty watercress leaves.

As you can see, enjoying this plant all year round is not that difficult!

Video:

how to grow watercress at home Expand

Growing watercress

Greens are often grown on the windowsill or in the garden because they are unpretentious and do not need special attention. At home, the harvest can be obtained every year. The best soil for the plant is soil that has been previously cleared of weeds.

Watercress propagates by seeds. They are usually sown in March. The first sprouts, which can be used for cooking, appear within a week, and after a month the plant is fully ripe for consumption. Watercress needs careful watering. If this condition is not observed, the leaves will become hard and have an unpleasant aftertaste.

At home, the plant will feel good even in a shallow container. If you sow seeds every 2 weeks, you will enjoy the harvest all year round.

Contraindications

In addition to the listed prohibitions, there are also contraindications that apply to people with the following problems:

• low pressure;
• frequent urination;
• gastritis;
• colitis;
• duodenitis;
• tuberculosis;
• bronchial ac class=”aligncenter” width=”625″ height=”454″[/img]

The benefits and harms of watercress have long been assessed by doctors and are used to improve well-being and strengthen the body. Before using the herb as a medicine, you should consult your doctor. For culinary purposes, it is worth using plants, carefully taking into account its benefits and harm in equal degrees.

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Contraindications and possible harm

These types of salad have not only beneficial properties, but also contraindications. Microgreens should not be consumed in large quantities by people with low blood pressure. Overuse of this product may cause headaches, dizziness, and even fainting.

Eating grass is contraindicated for people suffering from stomach ulcers or gastritis.

Before consuming microgreens, it is recommended to test for an allergic reaction. A few drops of lettuce juice are applied to the elbow area; if after 2-3 hours no rash appears on the skin, then the grass can be eaten. People suffering from an allergic reaction should avoid this product.

traditional medicine considers various recipes for preparing medicinal products with the plant

Harm of watercress

Unfortunately, the properties of this miracle plant can cause significant harm to some people. People prone to allergies should start eating salad carefully and in small quantities, as it can cause rashes, skin irritation and other reactions.

You should not eat salad in very large quantities (no more than 85 g per day), as it can cause insomnia or headaches. Wild cress, which grows along railroads and near garbage accumulations, should not be used in cooking, as the grass tends to absorb toxins.

Important! Considering these features, it becomes clear that it is not advisable for young children and pregnant women to include this plant in their diet.

Application in nutrition

Watercress goes well with both fish and meat. An excellent addition to stews, soups, and gravies. But the tastiest thing is fresh herbs added to salads with vitamin-rich vegetables: tomatoes, cucumbers, celery, sweet peppers, radishes, green onions. Season with sour cream or vegetable oil.

Prepare lean fish with spring grass. Cut the cod, pollock or hake into small pieces, boil and serve with a mixed side dish of watercress, pickled beets, parsley and basil. This dish will improve digestion and metabolism and will be useful for overweight people.