This is the healthiest vegetable of all, according to CDC: ‘Nutrient powerhouse'

When it comes to healthy eating, veggies are ever a bully prime — but 1 takes the barroom for being the healthiest.

Watercress is the astir nutrient-dense vegetable, receiving a cleanable people of 100 successful the CDC's long-standing ranking of "powerhouse" fruits and vegetables (PFVs).

Chinese cabbage is simply a adjacent 2nd with a people of 91.99, followed by chard (89.27), beet greens (87.08) and spinach (86.43).

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These foods, among a full of 41 that qualified arsenic PFVs, were recovered to incorporate 17 nutrients, including potassium, fiber, protein, calcium, iron, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, zinc, and vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, E and K.

Watercress is the astir nutrient-dense vegetable, receiving a cleanable people of 100 successful the CDC's ranking of "powerhouse" fruits and vegetables. (iStock)

Cruciferous items, including watercress, Chinese cabbage, collard greens, kale and arugula — arsenic good arsenic leafy greens, similar chard, beet greens, spinach, chicory and leafage lettuce — took the apical spots connected the list.

Yellow and orangish foods, similar carrots, tomatoes, wintertime squash and saccharine potatoes — on with allium, citrus and berry croups — landed successful the bottommost half.

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When it comes to the apical veggie, watercress, nutritionists hold that it has a multitude of wellness benefits.

1. Rich successful nutrients and debased successful calories

Watercress has "remarkable levels" of vitamins K, A, C and B, arsenic good arsenic magnesium, calcium and potassium, according to Serena Poon, certified nutritionist and personage longevity advisor successful Los Angeles.

Vitamin K, calcium and magnesium are large for bony health, Poon told Fox News Digital, portion vitamin C supports immune health, collagen accumulation and tegument radiance.

Watercress has "remarkable levels" of vitamins K, A, C and B, arsenic good arsenic magnesium, calcium and potassium, according to a nutrition expert. (iStock)

"Watercress whitethorn beryllium tiny, but it’s 1 of the astir nutrient-dense foods you tin find," Poon said. 

"Plus, since it's debased successful calories, you get each these benefits without adding overmuch to your regular caloric intake."

Los Angeles-based registered dietitian nutritionist Ilana Muhlstein agreed, telling Fox News Digital that consumers tin get much than 50% of their regular worth of vitamins C, A and K successful 3 cups of watercress.

2. Supports bosom health

Watercress is affluent successful antioxidants, which tin assistance trim inflammation and oxidative accent – 2 "key contributors" to heart disease, Poon noted.

The rootlike besides contains compounds similar beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin, which enactment bosom wellness and amended humor vas function.

"Greens are numero uno erstwhile it comes to steadfast food."

"Additionally, the nitrates successful watercress are known to little blood pressure, further protecting your cardiovascular system," Poon added.

"Adding watercress to your meals could beryllium a elemental yet almighty mode to springiness your bosom immoderate other support."

Watercress is affluent successful antioxidants, which tin assistance trim inflammation and oxidative accent – 2 "key contributors" to bosom disease, an adept noted. (iStock)

All acheronian greens and cruciferous veggies incorporate "powerful levels of antioxidants, but typically get overshadowed by different things similar berries," according to Muhlstein.

"Greens are numero uno erstwhile it comes to steadfast food," she said.

3. Could trim crab risk 

As powerhouse vegetables are powerfully associated with reduced chronic illness risk, watercress could besides trim cancer risk, according to Poon.

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"Watercress contains almighty phytochemicals, including glucosinolates, which person been shown to inhibit crab compartment growth," she said.

"When you chew watercress, these glucosinolates are converted into isothiocyanates, compounds that person been studied for their anti-cancer properties." 

As powerhouse vegetables are powerfully associated with reduced chronic illness risk, watercress could besides trim crab risk, experts say. (iStock)

Previous probe has suggested that watercress whitethorn assistance forestall DNA harm and trim the hazard of definite cancers, peculiarly those affecting the lungs and digestive tract, Poon added.

4. Encourages hormone balance

Nutrient-rich watercress tin besides enactment hormone wellness done its precocious levels of B vitamins, calcium and magnesium.

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These nutrients "play roles successful neurotransmitter balance, stress response and metabolic function, which are each captious for maintaining hormonal equilibrium," Poon told Fox News Digital.

Watercress' antioxidant properties could besides assistance to trim inflammation, "an underlying origin that tin disrupt hormone balance," an adept noted. (iStock)

5. Aids successful detoxification and liver health

The earthy compounds successful watercress, similar sulfur, tin heighten the body’s earthy detoxification process and enactment liver function, according to Poon.

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"This leafy greenish tin assistance enactment the liver’s quality to filter toxins and beforehand the elimination of discarded products, making it a large summation to immoderate detox-supportive diet," she said.

6. Supports tegument health

Watercress tin besides springiness the tegument a earthy glow, Poon noted, arsenic antioxidants similar vitamin C, beta-carotene and lutein enactment skin elasticity and radiance.

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"Vitamin C, successful particular, is indispensable for collagen production, which helps support tegument firmness and tin trim the quality of good lines," she added.