Eating watercress each day can extensively reduce DNA damage to blood cells, that are taken into consideration to be a critical trigger inside the development of cancer, University of Ulster scientists revealed today (15 February).
The studies, published in this month’s American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, determined that further to reducing DNA harm, a day by day part of watercress also increased the ability of those cells to resist further DNA damage caused by unfastened radicals**.
The dietary trial concerned 30 wholesome men and 30 healthful women (which includes 30 smokers) eating an 85g bag (a cereal bowl full) of fresh watercress each day for 8 weeks. The beneficial modifications have been the greatest many of the smokers.
This may replicate the greater poisonous burden or oxidative pressure among the smokers, as smokers have been also determined to have appreciably decrease antioxidant levels at the beginning of the examine as compared to the non-smokers.
Professor Ian Rowland, who led the research mission, said: “Our findings are highly widespread. Population research has proven links between higher intakes of cruciferous greens like watercress, and a discounted threat of a number of cancers.
However, such studies don’t provide direct statistics about causal effects. What makes this examine unique is it involves human beings consuming watercress in easily potential amounts, to peer what impact that could have on acknowledged bio-markers of cancer hazard, including DNA damage.
Most research to this point has depended on assessments performed in taking a look at tubes or in animals, with chemicals derived from cruciferous veggies.”
Prof. Rowland added: “Blood cellular DNA damage is a hallmark of entire frame cancer chance, and, the consequences assist the theory that consumption of watercress is linked to a basic reduced danger of cancer at numerous sites within the frame.
The nature of the have a look at a group also means that the consequences are relevant to the overall population ingesting an ordinary diet.”
The unmarried blind, randomized, crossover observe turned into carried out with volunteers aged between 19 and fifty-five. The volunteers ate one everyday portion of watercress in addition to their everyday diet.
The key findings of the watercress diet:
Big discount on DNA damage to lymphocytes (white blood cells), via 22.9 percent.
discount in DNA harm to lymphocytes (white blood cells) while a pattern changed into challenge with the free radical generating chemical hydrogen peroxide, via 9.4%
discount in blood triglyceride stages, with the aid of a median of 10% the
full-size boom in blood stages of lutein and beta-carotene, which have antioxidant activity, by means of 100% and 33% respectively(better intakes of lutein have also been related to a decrease incidence of eye diseases which includes cataract and age-associated macular degeneration).
Average intakes of dietary fiber, nutrition C, vitamin E, folate and beta- carotene, have been notably higher all through the watercress section of the look at.
The two 12 months research undertaking turned into funded via The Watercress Alliance, made up of British watercress producers, Vitacress Salads, Alresford Salads, and The Watercress Company.
Member Steve Rothwell commented: “We have recognized for years that the special mustard oil in watercress, PEITC, has significant anticancer properties. But studies on PEITC has been confined mainly to laboratory cultures or animal research.
“This is groundbreaking research on fronts: it shows the anticancer houses of watercress pass beyond those resulting from PEITC and, more importantly, the look at is the primary to demonstrate a direct correlation between consuming watercress and reducing one’s susceptibility to cancer”
The self-belief to run this examine came from a large frame of present evidence which has tested the anti-cancer potential of watercress, together with a laboratory have a look at with human colon most cancers cells, run by means of the same studies organization.
Published in May 2006, the take a look at confirmed for the first time that a watercress extract had beneficial results on ‘initiation’, the DNA damage that triggers most cancers mobile development, ‘proliferation’ or uncontrolled growth of most cancers cells, and ‘metastasis’, the unfold of most cancers cells.
These are the three key levels of carcinogenesis, the method that consequences in most cancers. Watercress extract became additionally shown to trigger cell loss of life of cancerous calls a manner called apoptosis.
UK TV presenter and survivor of bowel cancer Lynn Faulds Wood commented: “The studies from the University of Ulster may be very interesting – it’s extremely good to understand there are easy matters that humans can do – like eating watercress – which may want to help them avoid getting cancers like bowel most cancers in the future.
It’s tremendous that the watercress farmers need to elevate the consciousness of bowel most cancers, the most common most cancers in Europe. Thousands of human beings die unnecessarily of bowel most cancers each yr – with workout and an awesome diet, many of them ought to live.”
About watercress
Cultivated in natural spring water, watercress has been respected as a superfood down the centuries. Hippocrates, the daddy of medicine, is stated to have located his first hospital near a circulate to make sure clean watercress to help treat his patients.
Greek soldiers were given it as a tonic earlier than going into warfare and the sixteenth Century herbalist Culpepper claimed it is able to cleanse the blood. It is brimming with more than 15 vital vitamins and minerals. Gram for gram, it contains greater iron than spinach, greater diet C than oranges and more calcium than milk.
Watercress is the UK’s most historical salad leaf and inside the 19th Century was a staple a part of the running class diet, most often eaten for breakfast in a sandwich. If human beings have been too negative to shop for bread, then they ate it on its own, that’s why it becomes sometimes called “terrible man’s bread.” Bunches were hand-held and eaten ice-cream cone fashion the primary “on the cross food.”
After many years of being driven to the facet of the plate as nothing extra than an ornamental garnish, watercress is currently enjoying a renaissance, with sales growing via £18 million a year to £55 million. Consumers and celebrities alike are re-discovering its distinctive peppery flavor and its remarkable nutritional benefits. Liz Hurley has been known to drink seven cups of watercress soup a day!