Eat Watercress for better Workout Results

Posted by admin

May 1, 2012

I’ve worked with professional athletes in numerous sports, so I’m always on the lookout for new research on foods and nutrients with performance and recovery benefits. The latest to pop up is watercress. A study published in the British Journalof Nutrition reports that eating a small amount of this leafy green each day raised levels of key antioxidants that fend of damage caused by exercise.

As a board certified sports RD, I often explain to my clients that while exercise is necessary for seeing results in strength, endurance, and bodycomposition, it also takes a toll on the body. The wear and tear and increased demand can create more free radicals, nasty substances that contribute to DNA damage. That’s why a nutrient-rich diet that neutralizes free radicals and allows the body to heal goes hand in hand with training.

In this particular study, ten healthy young men were given a small bag of watercress, about 3 ounces, daily for eight weeks. The participants were then asked to execute treadmill workouts that included short bursts of intense exercise. Another group, which was not given watercress also performed the treadmill workout after eight-week as a control.

Nutrition, Workouts

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