What Is Chinese Watercress?

Chinese watercress is a peppery addition to stir-fry and noodle dishes. Chinese watercress is one name for Ipomoea aquatica, also known as water spinach, swamp cabbage, on-choy, swamp morning glory and several other names. This is a fast-growing flowered vine that covers the surface of bodies of water.

Can Chinese watercress be eaten raw?

Versatile Addition to Any Meal. Watercress can be used in a wide variety of dishes. However, to get the most benefits from its active antioxidant compounds, it’s best eaten raw or lightly steamed ( 36 ).

What does Chinese watercress taste like?

What Does Watercress Taste Like? Raw watercress tastes bright and fresh, though mature plants can become slightly bitter. Its somewhat peppery flavor is reminiscent of related vegetables, like mustard greens and wasabi. The leafy green loses some of its pungency when cooked.

Are there different types of watercress?

There are three major groups of cress: watercress (Nasturtium officinale), garden cress (Lepidium sativum) and upland cress (Barbarea verna).

Is watercress the same as morning glory?

Morning glory, also known as water spinach or Chinese watercress, [1] is a semi-aquatic plant commonly found near rivers and other waterways in Southeast Asia. It grows readily in moist soil or just water, flourishing with little human care.

Who should not eat watercress?

Stay on the safe side and avoid use. Children: Watercress is LIKELY UNSAFE for use as a medicine in children, especially in those younger than four years old. Stomach or intestinal ulcers: Don’t use watercress if you have stomach or intestinal ulcers. Kidney disease: Don’t use watercress if you have kidney disease.

Is watercress healthier than spinach?

Spinach contains four times more dietary fiber than watercress. Spinach contains 21.5 times more folate, five times more zinc, and 15 times more iron. It is also richer in most of the B complex vitamins, vitamins A, E, and K, magnesium, potassium, zinc, copper.

What does watercress do for the body?

Eating watercress can help support the health of your heart. Antioxidants (carotenoids in particular) have been linked to lower blood pressure, lower risk of heart disease, and even a lower risk of heart attacks and strokes.

What are the benefits of eating watercress?

Watercress Health Benefits
Watercress may not be your typical fiber-rich vegetable. Still, it’s a nutrient-dense green that provides a good source of vitamin C and an excellent source of vitamin K, as well as a range of other nutrients, such as vitamin A, manganese, riboflavin and vitamin B6.

Is watercress a spinach?

Watercress has a spicier taste than spinach or kale but can be used in similar ways. Make a salad using all watercress or a mix of watercress and other greens.

What is watercress called in America?

watercress, (Nasturtium officinale), also called cress, perennial aquatic plant of the mustard family (Brassicaceae), native to Eurasia and naturalized throughout North America. Watercress thrives in cool flowing streams, where it grows submerged, floating on the water, or spread over mud surfaces.

How do you know if its watercress?

Identification. Watercress grows 4 to 10 inches high. Leaves: The alternate, pinnately compound leaves can be from about 1.5 inches to 6.5 inches long and consist of 2 to 8 nearly oval-shaped leaflets arranged in opposite pairs with one larger leaflet on the end. The leaflet edges are wavy.

Does watercress have parasites?

Parasites – Fascioliasis (Fasciola Infection)
Fascioliasis is found in all continents except Antarctica, in over 70 countries, especially where there are sheep or cattle. People usually become infected by eating raw watercress or other water plants contaminated with immature parasite larvae.

Is Chinese watercress different from watercress?

Chinese watercress is not the same as the watercress sold in markets in countries like the United States, which is a member of the Nasturtium genus. Ipomoea aquatica is related to sweet potatoes and is part of the Convolvulaceae, or morning glory, family. Chinese watercress is related to sweet potatoes.

What is watercress in Cantonese?

Watercress (西洋菜,sai yeung choi in Cantonese or xī yáng cài in Mandarin), is a super healthy vegetable.

What is in watercress?

Watercress is rich in vitamin A (from beta-carotene) and vitamin C, and is a source of folate, calcium, iron and vitamin E. It also contains useful amounts of vitamin K, thiamin, vitamin B6, potassium and iodine and is naturally low in sodium. Due to its high water content (93%) it is low in calories.

What are the side effects of eating watercress?

There are no known side effects of watercress at routine doses.

Does watercress make you poop?

Promotes healthy bowel regularity – crops known as ‘bitters’ which have a sharp, pungent taste or smell, like the peppery flavour of watercress, help to promote healthy and regular bowel movements and reduce bowel restrictions such as constipation.

Is it safe to eat watercress everyday?

You can eat watercress everyday and, as watercress is sold in all supermarkets, it’s easy to get your nutritional top-up! Watercress (nasturtium officinale) is a superfood; we already know that watercress is rich in vitamins, containing over 50 vital vitamins and minerals.

Is watercress good for kidneys?

Watercress is suitable for all ages, except for those with kidney stones or who are at risk of kidney stones. This is because watercress contains a lot of oxalates, compounds that can cause stones to form. For this reason, it’s important not to eat too much watercress, or ask a health professional for advice.

Is it safe to eat raw watercress?

Yes, absolutely – in fact watercress is best eaten raw. When the rest of us would be snacking on a biscuit, watercress growers are often seen wandering the farm chewing on fresh, uncooked watercress, and my, what a healthy bunch they are! In Victorian times watercress was regarded as an essential staple.