We hum along to the tune of Sylvia La Torre’s ‘Bahay Kubo’ every now and then, but do you ever wonder what is considered the healthiest vegetable these days?
Before you answer anything that is included in the song, let us tell you that none of them are considered the healthiest (though they still serve as healthy alternatives if you don’t want livestock for dinner).
Agriculture and nutrition experts from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently revealed the healthiest vegetable that you should consume.
Many known vegetables like spinach, chard, and beet greens all ranged their nutrition density scores to 80. But the Watercress surpassed them by having a perfect 100 score.
So, what is watercress? The Nasturtium officinale is part of the Brassicaceae family and is suitable to harvest on fresh waters such as streams and ponds. It might sound young to you because it is related to other leafy greens such as lettuce, cabbage, and kale.
So what if it’s healthy? Does it taste good? Well, the watercress has a peppery flavor – the kind of peppery when you fuse arugula and horseradish. According to B&W Quality Growers, the crop seems to have been consumed for over 3,000 years. The crop has been with our history through past civilizations.
The watercress is also an essential source of Vitamin A and Potassium than your average lettuce. And for those who are finding natural cures for flu and colds, the crop also contains more Vitamin C than an orange.
So, where could we find watercress? Well, if you’re residing in Metro Manila, chances of getting to buy the crop would take a kilometer-long road trip to some mountainous areas like Baguio City, Ifugao, and Mountain Province. If you don’t have ample time and budget for long road trips, growing one of your own is also an option when you buy seeds online via online shopping platforms.
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