The Watercress Company is partnering with a local hospital to supply cancer patients with a daily watercress smoothie to improve their general health and well-being.
Cancer patients at Dorset County Hospital will receive the smoothies during a three-month trial that began in November 2016, under an initiative developed by the hospital and The Watercress Company.
First trialled in May 2016, the project has gone through a series of tests to develop a tasty recipe with the optimum balance of minerals and vitamins.
The Watercress Company managing director, Tom Amery, said: “We are delighted to be able to develop a product with DCH that has such a benefit to patients. Other than the nutrient benefits, we recognise the wellbeing that comes from such a novel solution, backed by scientific research, supporting the long recognised effect watercress has on health and nutrition.”
Watercress includes nutrients such as vitamin C, iron and calcium as well as enzymes that are activated when watercress is chewed or blended into a smoothie. Watercress is also a source of isothiocyanates (ITCs), which have been linked to inhibiting cancer cell growth in several scientific studies.
Results will be measured via questionnaires and monitoring uptakes, with an initial aim to confirm that patients are enjoying the smoothies, and feel that their experience at DCH has been improved due to the scheme.
If successful, the project could be scaled up to involve other hospitals and full clinical trials may also be considered.
