It was consumed in ancient Egypt and the Far East in 4000 BC; the Romans used it in the kitchen and Nero was passionate about this plant. It is used in salads, soups, puddings, as a condiment and as a vegetable.

For its wealth of water it has little calorie content for its diuretic properties recommended for people suffering from fluid retention and hypertension and to treat constipation by the amount of fiber.

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