The rocket among lettuce

Hey foodies!

Rocket (also known as arugula or rucola) is very popular due to its spicy taste that gives salads and other dishes that certain extra. Here I show you why you have other good reasons to integrate rocket into your diet. ;-)

Rocket belongs to the cruciferous plants. At the very latest, when one has eaten rocket, it fits like a fist to the eye, because the spicy taste, which can be traced back to the glucosinolates contained therein, is comparable to mustard, which is also counted among the Brassicaceae.

Rocket is like any other lettuce particularly low in calories. However, compared to most lettuce, rocket contains higher amounts of valuable ingredients. It is a good source of iron, calcium, potassium, vitamin C and vitamin A. The glucosinolates, which are among the secondary plant substances, are not only flavourful, but also antioxidant, preventing the development of cancer and other chronic diseases.

But did you know that rocket should not be consumed in too high quantities, since rocket stores nitrites that are naturally present in the soil or get there by fertilizer. Nitrates are converted into nitrosamines in the body, which have a negative effect on health. However, as long as rocket is consumed in normal quantities, there is no danger of nitrate. Fortunately, the vitamin C contained in rocket ensures that the conversion of nitrate to nitrosamines is inhibited.

By the way, how do you call rocket? Does it depend on the region one lives? Here in Austria we call it "Rucola". But I enjoy the name "rocket" or "rocket salad" because it perfectly refers to the shape of it. :-D

Have a nice day!