Garden cress seeds: Benefits, uses and side effects

Cress seeds have the same name throughout the Arab world. Garden cress grows especially in the countries of the Far East and the Middle East. The plant of cress can grow up to 40 cm. The leaves of the plant can be consumed fresh or dried. It has a peppery sharp flavour. The seeds have a thin crust can swell in water.

The nutritional value of garden cress seeds

Garden cress is considered as a rich source of iron, folate, vitamin A, dietary fiber, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin E and protein. It also contains a high tenor of ascorbic acid, arachidic acid, folic acid and beta carotene, which helps improve the immune system.

Garden cress contains protein and fatty acids. It contains estrogen-like plant chemicals that help regulate menstruation and stimulate milk production for nursing mothers.

The nutritional value of 100g of garden cress seeds

• Energy: 30 calories
• Food fiber: 1.1 g
• Carbohydrates: 5.5 g
• Fat: 0.7 g
• Folic acid: 80 micrograms
• Vitamin A: 346 micrograms
• Vitamin C: 69 mg
• Calcium: 81 mg
• Iron: 1.3 mg
• Protein: 2.6 g

Medicinal properties of garden cress seeds

Rich in vitamins and minerals

Garden cress contains a high proportion of vitamin C more than those found in oranges. An ounce of cress seeds provides to the body about 32% of the daily needs of vitamin C. This proportion is 7% greater than that found in one ounce of fresh oranges.

Garden cress helps maintain the skin, the bones and the gums healthy. It also ensures to cover the body needs in iron. In fact, it improves the body's ability to absorb iron from the eaten foods.

Anti-cancer

Garden cress is rich in beneficial nutrients such as calcium, iron, iodine, vitamins and manganese. These nutrients make it a natural treatment for cancer patients.

Antibacterial

Scientific studies have shown that garden cress plays a pivotal role in fighting bacteria. It actually prevents the growth of 3 types of bacteria.

Antiviral

Scientific studies conducted on animals showed the antiviral role of garden cress. But, there are no studies to show this effect on humans.

Diuretic

Garden cress is characterized by diuretic properties. These properties have not been scientifically proven.

Anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory

Garden cress contains significant amounts of plant sterols, which are anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds. It also contains phenolic compounds that contribute to the prevention of cancer, cardiovascular disease, oxidation and delay aging.

Other characteristics

Garden cress helps to increase and activate the body's energy. It fights toxins and stimulates sexual desire and appetite. It also improves eyesight and health.

Benefits of garden cress seeds for health

Helps treat anemia

Garden cress is distinguished from many spices by containing high levels of folic acid and iron. These compounds increase the level of hemoglobin in the blood when they are consumed for at least two months. This fact helps treat iron deficiency and anemia.

Many studies indicate that to obtain a good absorption of iron, vitamin C supplements should be added. In fact, vitamin C helps to enhance the ability of the digestive system to absorb iron. As garden cress seeds contain high ratios of vitamin C, it can be used without the need to any other dietary supplements to treat anemia and iron deficiency.

Treats menstrual cycle disorders

The regulation of the menstrual cycle is very important for women to know the appropriate times for pregnancy. Garden cress helps to solve the problem of women who have irregular menstruation. As it contains estrogen-like phytochemicals, the consumption of garden cress helps create a hormonal environment to start menstruation and to regulate menstrual periods.

Boosts the secretion of breast milk

Garden cress is characterized by a high nutritional value that is beneficial to the nursing mother. It helps in the production of breast milk. It contains a high tenor of protein and iron, which are important elements for the mother. Breastfeeding mothers are therefore advised to consume the garden cress seeds.

Helps to treat diabetes

Garden cress contains vegetable gum that secretes photochemical. Photochemical has properties that reduce blood sugar, which helps control glucose levels in diabetics.

Treats constipation and stimulates gastrointestinal function

Garden cress helps treat sore throat, coughing, asthma and headaches. It is recommended for people with bronchitis because it contains the characteristics of bronchodilatation.

Strengthens the liver

Garden cress stimulates bile function. It protects the liver from damage caused by toxic agents such as carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) as it is rich in flavonoids, triterpens, alkaloids and tannins.

Maintains arterial health and protects against heart diseases

Garden cress helps protect arteries from cholesterol because it is rich in vitamin C. It stimulates the production of collagen. Collagen is the protein responsible for the elasticity of arterial walls. It also contains important amounts of vitamin K, which prevents the deposition of calcium on the arteries and heart valves. This is usually known as calcification of the arteries.

It is strongly recommended to eat foods rich in vitamin K such as watercress when consuming large amounts of calcium.

Treats high blood pressure

Garden cress is characterized by anti-hypertensive properties. It has also a diuretic property that helps reduce blood pressure.

Protects against cancer

A scientific study has shown that it is possible to fight cancer using garden cress. It contains antioxidants such as Vitamin A and Vitamin E which help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. Garden cress contains also a bioactive compound that stops the production of certain enzymes that cause the growth of tumors. Garden cress infusion contributes to kill breast cancer cells.

Strengthens the immune system

Garden cress contains 69 mg of vitamin C and 346 micrograms of vitamin A. These two vitamins are the key to good immunity. Vitamin C improves the function of white blood cells and is characterized by antibacterial and antiviral activity. Vitamin A helps prevent viruses and bacteria from penetrating the body through sensitive mucous membranes on the eyes, nose, mouth, throat, lungs and stomach. Therefore, garden cress helps to strengthen the immune system.

Facilitates childbirth

In the last few weeks of pregnancy and postpartum, garden cress is helpful to stimulate delivery. But if consumed early in pregnancy (first quarter), it leads to spontaneous abortion.

Increases sexual desire

Garden cress helps to improve sexual desire for men and women. It also helps to improve sexual desire for new mothers.

Improves memory

Garden cress helps to activate the memory because it contains linoleic and arachidic fatty. These acids help to boost memory.

Prevents eye diseases

Garden cress contains carotenoids necessary for healthy eyes. The consumption of only one ounce of garden cress seeds provides about 40% of vitamin A in the form of carotenoids. Vitamin A and carotenoids are one of the best nutrients for the eyes. They are able to reduce the risk of night vision problems or what is known as night blindness. They prevent also retinitis pigmentosa, cataracts and even age-related macular degeneration, which is the common cause of blindness in older people.

Helps to treat bone diseases, cold, rheumatism and teeth

Garden cress is used in Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries to treat bone diseases. It promotes the health of bones and teeth because it contains significant amounts of vitamin K. Vitamin K helps increase calcium levels in bones and joints. It also maintains bone integrity and protects against osteoporosis and fractures. Therefore, the consumption of garden cress is beneficial for bones because it provides significant amounts of calcium, which contributes to improving the absorption of magnesium by bones and teeth.

Maintains healthy gums

Eating garden cress helps stop the proliferation of destructive bacteria that cause tooth decay. At the same time, it contributes to keep gums and teeth healthy as it is a rich in vitamins.

Helps treat haemorrhoids

Living with hemorrhoids is a difficult experience. But when knowing which foods to eat and what foods to avoid, it is possible to recognize some inexpensive tricks that help reduce bleeding and inflammation and to relieve the pain and itching associated with this condition. Eating garden cress seeds is one of the most important tricks to treat hemorrhoids and alleviate its symptoms.

Diuretic

Garden cress is characterized by diuretic properties. Patients with frequent urination should be careful when consuming these seeds.

Benefits of garden cress for skin

Garden cress helps to relieve pains and treat wounds. It is also useful in skin disorders associated with itching. It also helps to have healthy skin because it is rich in essential fatty acids, iron, folic acid, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin A.

The application of cream made from garden cress and water treats chapped lips, sunburns, skin irritation and dry skin.

Benefits of garden cress for hair

Garden cress helps to get thick and healthy hair. Boiled garden cress contributes to treat damaged hair and prevents hair loss because it contains significant amounts of vitamin C antioxidant. Vitamin C contributes to maintain the hair healthy. In addition, vitamin A and vitamin E make the hair look thicker, longer and healthier.

Helps to lose weight and slimming

Drinking a mix of garden cress with water in the morning before breakfast helps to reduce weight naturally.

Other benefits of garden cress

Garden cress is characterized by several therapeutic properties. It helps to eject intestinal worms. It also dry up pus formation in boils and contributes to the increase of sperm.

Garden cress helps to recover from muscular weakness, reduces muscle tension, contributes to increase appetite, helps asthma patients, relieves breathing difficulties, cleans and cleanses the lungs, and helps people with sciatica in general.

How to use garden cress?

Therapeutic uses of garden cress

Bring a cup of water to boil. Add grounded cress seeds and a large spoonful of honey. Drinking this mixture helps treat cancer patients.

Drinking a dose of boiled cress seeds helps to fight insect bites. The smoke of cress seeds helps to kick out insects.

The application of ointment made up of dipped cress seeds in saline water helps to get rid of boils.

Drinking boiled cress seeds helps to dissolve phlegm in the chest and lungs and get rid of it. It also treats vomiting. Drinking boiled 20 grams of cress seeds improves bowel movement, expels gases and reduces the pain of colic.

Drinking boiled water with cress seeds powder helps to treat leprosy patients.

A combination of apple cider vinegar and cress seeds helps to treat herpes. It also relieves the pain of cold-induced headaches.

The fried cress seeds help calm the nerves and remove tension.

The rinsing of the head with the garden cress water helps to clean the head from impurities.

Uses of cress seeds in kitchen

Garden cress is always used in the oriental cuisine because of its aromatic refreshing and unique flavor. It can be grinded with black pepper and added to dishes such as sandwiches, salads and drinks.

It can be slightly roasted with salt and added to the salad.

It can be soaked in water and added to milk and juices.

Recommended dosage of cress seeds

It is recommended to start with one teaspoon of garden cress daily. Then increase the dose.

Garden cress is characterized by many medicinal characteristics. Scientific researches are still underway to find its health benefits. But it should be eaten moderately because excessive consumption of these seeds may have a negative impact on health.

Side effects of garden cress seeds

Excessive consumption of cress seeds is associated with harmful effects. In fact, mustard oil in cress seeds can cause gastrointestinal problems in some people who are allergic to it. In addition, patients who suffer from frequent urination must be careful when consuming garden cress. Garden cress also stimulates uterine contractions and abortion. Therefore, pregnant women should avoid it. Abortion can occur at the beginning of pregnancy if it is taken with high amounts.

Garden cress can cause dysfunction of the thyroid gland by interfering with the absorption of iodine. So it should be consumed with caution by patients with dysfunction of the thyroid gland.

Sources

[1] https://drhealthbenefits.com :17 Health Benefits of Garden Cress Seeds – Tiny Veggies with Big Benefits
[2] http://www.nutrichoice4u.com : Benefits of Gardencress seeds/ Halim/ Aliv
[3] http://www.healthwantcare.com : 12 Diseases and Hair Loss can be Stopped by Using of the Garden cress