7 amazing health benefits of watercress for young children

In addition to its unique taste and irresistible crunch, few people know that watercress lettuce is also very good for children's health.

Watercress lettuce or watercress is a familiar food to many people. However, we are less aware of the great uses of this vegetable such as improving the immune system, helping bones strong , preventing some chronic diseases ...

Is watercress lettuce safe for children?

aFamilyToday Health's answer is "yes". From the age of 6 months , mothers should start adding this vegetable to the baby's weaning menu to ensure their children are provided with enough iron minerals for the toddler stage.

For children in the age of weaning, mothers should be boiled and crushed and then put in their children's soups or porridge. For older children, you can cook watercress soup or make a mixed salad.

7 benefits of watercress lettuce for children's health

In fact, watercress is on the list of recommended fruits and vegetables recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Accordingly, this vegetable contains quite a few calories, but is a plentiful source of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, B vitamins, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, iron ... and most notably vitamin K. This vegetable offers 7 health benefits such as:

1. Improve the immune system

Watercress contains more iron than spinach, more calcium than a cup of milk and especially vitamin C than oranges. With the rich content of vitamin C, this vegetable enhances the resistance and protects the body from harmful agents from the external environment.

Folk also have tips to cook watercress together with dried tangerine peel to detoxify and help sick people recover more quickly.

2. Prevention of birth defects

In addition to vitamin C, watercress lettuce also contains a lot of folate, an important nutrient that promotes cell division during pregnancy. Therefore, pregnant women during pregnancy should add this food to the diet to prevent birth defects and help the fetus to develop healthy.

3. Improving heart health - A heart-healthy effect of watercress

Watercress is rich in natural antioxidants, especially lutein. Many studies have shown that high levels of this substance in the body not only help prevent the onset of cardiovascular diseases but also reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Plus, the vitamin C in this cruciferous vegetable acts as a powerful antioxidant that helps reduce damage to heart tissue. In addition, other ingredients such as magnesium, potassium, fiber also support to increase the performance of the heart muscle effectively.

4. Beneficial for joints

In addition, the phytonutrients in watercress such as isothiocyanates and gluconasturtiin work to strengthen bones, fight infections, maintain healthy connective tissue and prevent iron deficiency in children .

In addition, watercress lettuce also contains many essential minerals for bones and joints such as calcium, phosphorus. Thanks to the presence of vitamin K and magnesium, the absorption of calcium from the small intestine is optimized. Therefore, mothers should practice feeding babies green vegetables from a young age to have a strong bone system.

5. Watercress lettuce helps prevent cancer

Interestingly, cruciferous vegetables contain glucosinates, which are converted to phenylethyl isothiocynate (PEITC) when cut, sliced, or through chewing.

This substance has the ability to fight cancer by protecting healthy cells from damage, while also preventing the spread of tumors. Isothiocyanates have been shown to prevent colon and lung cancer .

As a green leafy vegetable, watercress obviously possesses a sulfur-containing compound called sulforaphane. This substance has been shown to have anti-cancer properties by releasing a variety of antioxidant enzymes that fight carcinogens.

6. Good for the eyes

Children with vision problems should be given more watercress. Because its ingredients contain high levels of zeaxanthin and lutein are nutrients that improve vision. In addition to this benefit, the vitamin A found in this vegetable also reduces the risk of macular degeneration and cataracts .

7. Abundant source of calcium

In addition to its role in strengthening bone and joint health, calcium also has certain effects on reducing blood pressure, as well as improving endothelial dysfunction and limiting platelet aggregation.

Calcium supplementation for the body through natural food sources such as watercress has also been shown to be safe and does not cause adverse cardiovascular effects. This is one of the few concerns that many people take in high dose supplements.

Accordingly, children only need to supplement calcium through the daily diet with a need of about 500mg. In some cases, children may need to supplement 1000mg / day, however, you should note that too much of this mineral will lead to excess and harm the body. Therefore, you should pay more attention to the issue of calcium supplementation with food. If you have any questions, you can consult your pediatrician.

When should children use watercress?

According to experts, if you notice that your child has signs of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) including loss of sleep, lack of concentration, mood swings and frequent disturbances, then Parents should add watercress to their child's daily menu. Because it is not only beneficial for the digestive system, but this cruciferous vegetable is also rich in vitamin K, a useful nutrient that helps improve insomnia .

The disadvantage when feeding children with watercress mom needs to know

Consuming too much of any food is unhealthy. Therefore, if you eat too much watercress during the day, your child will easily become dehydrated or have a stomachache. It is also recommended that women who are pregnant in the first 3 months of pregnancy should not consume much of this vegetable as it can cause miscarriage.

Watercress has been noted as unsafe when used as medicine for children, especially for children under 4 years old. This vegetable is also not recommended for use with people suffering from peptic ulcers. Note that with high iodine content, subjects suffering from hyperthyroidism should also limit their intake of watercress.

4 important notes when giving children watercress

Soak off thoroughly: Because it is usually grown in ponds and lakes - where parasites, larvae or pathogens are present, mothers need to wash thoroughly (can soak in water to dilute salt / vinegar).

Who should not take: Children diagnosed with stomach problems, kidney problems, or immunodeficiency problems should avoid watercress to not aggravate these conditions.

Not the same product: Because the amount of vitamin C in watercress combined with arsenic in seafood will produce harmful substances for the body.

Prioritize clean, clear-sourced vegetables: You should buy watercress from safe sources, be it supermarkets or stores that specialize in organic foods.

Above are information about 7 wonderful effects of watercress salad on children's health. To ensure the health and prevent childhood sickness, mothers should add this vegetable to their child's menu. Don't forget to combine with other foods to fully meet your child's nutritional needs!