Can a watercress drink help flush out Cancer-Causing chemicals?
NCT ID NCT03978117
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study tested whether two specially prepared drinks, one made from freeze-dried watercress, can help the body get rid of harmful environmental chemicals that may cause cancer. Three hundred healthy adults, including smokers and non-smokers, drank the preparations three times daily for two weeks. Researchers measured detoxification byproducts in urine to see if the drinks boosted the body's natural cleansing process, especially in people with certain gene variations.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Freeze-dried watercress preparation (providing 2-phenethyl isothiocyanate, PEITC)
What this could lead to
If it works, this could point toward a simple dietary drink that helps the body remove cancer-causing chemicals from the environment.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-phase trial in healthy people, not patients. The drink may not produce meaningful detoxification, and results may not apply to the general population.
Disclaimer
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Contacts and locations
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Locations
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University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55405, United States