Watercress helps in fight against breast cancer

Scientists claim that health-boosting properties in watercress could help stop breast cancer tumours growing...

Eating watercress every day could help to prevent breast cancer, researchers have found.

The super food can help to 'turn off' a signal in the body and thereby help starve the tumour of essential blood and oxygen, according to experts at the University of Southampton.

According to Cancer Research UK, there were 45,972 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in 2007. Last week saw an increase in the breast cancer survival rates by almost 10% in a decade. The new study showed volunteers who ate 80 grams of watercress per day, about the equivalent of a cereal bowl size, experienced significant health benefits, increasing the number of cancer-fighting molecules in the bloodstream within hours and could prevent it from developing further.

The research found that the compound, phenylethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), which gives the salad leaf a peppery taste, is able to interfere with the function of a protein that plays a critical role in cancer development.

So, ditch the sandwich and grab yourself a nice watercress salad for lunch!

10 BEST SUPER FOODS

RECIPE: CHECKEN & WATERCRESS STIR FRY

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH NEWS