Regular consumption of watercress can prevent breast cancer: Research

Watercress, the super food, is now  watercress the breast cancer preventive according to a study released September 20, 2010 in The British Journal of Nutrition conducted by the Cancer Research Centre at the School of Medicine,  Southampton General Hospital in the United Kingdom.  In experimental findings the consumption of a 3 ounce portion of watercress by healthy participants who had previously been treated for breast cancer reduced the presence of a key tumor growth factor six and eight hours after eating the watercress.  The study demonstrates that watercress is as therapeutic as traditional drug treatments with tamoxifen and herceptin, and through regular consumption has the potential to confer valuable protection against cancer in general.

Dr. Nicholas Perricone, the celebrated anti-aging specialist, elaborates on the anti-cancer role of watercress in his newest book, Forever Young (www.getforeveryoung.com).  According to Dr. Perricone, "Watercress has the ability to turn off HIF1, a signal sent out by cells calling for blood supply. When HIF1 becomes incorrectly regulated, otherwise harmless precancerous clusters of cells have the opportunity to grow to form invasive tumors.  Perricone states, "Scientists have been looking for anti-angiogenesis agents for years because if we can turn off the blood supply, we can kill the cancer.  And it looks like watercress can do that."

Another study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in February of 2007 showed that, in addition to reducing DNA damage, a daily dose of watercress increased the ability of cells to further resist DNA damage that may be caused by free radicals.  In the study, 60 men and women, half of whom were smokers, consumed their usual diet plus 85 grams of raw watercress daily for eight weeks. Blood samples were analyzed for plasma antioxidant status and DNA damage in lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. Watercress consumption significantly reduced lymphocyte DNA damage.

The Southampton and AJCN studies confirm what the Romans, Greeks and Persians  have known for centuries — watercress is a powerful natural medicine and nutritionally dense.  Watercress has been prescribed for migraines, anemia, eczema, kidney and liver disorder and tuberculosis.  

As the news of anti-cancer properties of watercress spreads, many consumers will be looking for ways to incorporate this wonderful green into their diets.  Fortunately Watercress is a friendly and versatile leaf, delicious in drinks, salads, soups, sautees, spreads, sandwiches, stews and stir-fry's.  And watercress is widely available thanks to B & W Quality Growers, Inc., the largest producer in the United States.