Lettuce: 10 properties and benefits of this vegetable
When you think of a healthy diet, you think of lettuce. And it is no wonder, it is a vegetable with many nutrients that benefit the body. In addition, its flavor allows it to be combined with a myriad of ingredients and in different dishes.
All varieties of lettuce have properties and benefits. Thanks to this characteristic, lettuce has become the main ingredient in salads. Although it is also present in other types of dishes, not necessarily dietary, but ultimately it is a vegetable that cannot be missing from our diet.
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She knows the benefits and properties of lettuce
Lettuce provides freshness to dishes that include it. Although it can also be enjoyed alone, or you can add a dressing or sauce if we want to enhance its flavor. Even, as is the case in Mexico, sometimes lemon and chili are added to be savored as a snack.
Because it is a multi-vitamin vegetable, lettuce is a food with properties and benefits that must be known
. Without a doubt, after meeting them, no one will hesitate to include lettuce in their daily diet.1. High in fiber
Lettuce is a vegetable with a high amount of dietary fiber. For this reason, consuming lettuce is recommended during episodes of constipation. In addition, it helps eliminate fluid retention and inflammation.
This is one of the reasons why lettuce is included in salads and in almost any diet that claims to help lose weight. Its high fiber content helps the intestines work properly and keep our intestines completely healthy.
- Recommended article: "10 foods rich in fiber (to combat constipation)"
2. Helps to relax
Another property of lettuce is that it helps you fall asleep. Because it contains lactucarium, which is a substance that acts directly on the nervous system reducing stress, lettuce helps people relax and sleep better.
Whether it is consumed directly or an infusion is prepared to drink before going to sleep, it is just as effective. It is also said that taking a tub bath with lettuce leaves has the same effect to help you fall asleep much better.
3. Auxiliary in the control of high cholesterol
Among the properties and benefits of lettuce is to maintain cholesterol levels. This vegetable is high in antioxidants. This allows your continued consumption to keep cholesterol levels in an optimal range.
Combined with other ingredients such as blueberries the antioxidant effect can be enhanced, helping the body's cells to prevent aging. This, as a consequence, helps maintain good cardiovascular health.
4. Low in sodium
Lettuce is a very low sodium vegetable. In addition to this, its large amount of water and potassium make it an ideal food to prevent or assist in diseases such as hypertension.
What's more, helps relieve fluid retention, so it can also prevent kidney stones and gout. This is one of the many benefits of lettuce in the body, so its regular consumption is recommended.
5. Regulates sugar levels
One of the most surprising properties of lettuce is that it regulates the level of sugar in the blood. It is considered a hypoglycemic food, making it an ideal ingredient for diabetic patients.
In fact, this is one of the main reasons why lettuce appears in all salads. It is a vegetable that provides zero calories and also reduces sugar, so it is always part of the diets used to lose weight.
6. Highly nutritious
Lettuce is one of the vegetables with the most vitamins. It contains vitamins A, C, E, B1, B2 and B3, vitamin K, calcium, magnesium, potassium, fiber, folates, antioxidants, beta-carotene, trace elements and lactucarium. Not bad, right?
The highest concentration of vitamins is said to be found in the outer leaves. Lettuce also contains a lot of water and provides 18g of calories for every 100g consumed. In addition, it also contains folic acid.
7. Fight anemia
Due to all its properties, lettuce can be used to combat anemia. As we have already explained, lettuce has a high content of vitamins and nutrients, as well as a high amount of water.
Thanks to this, it has been used in cases of anemia to help reduce it. Its daily consumption provides a large part of the body's nutritional requirements, and being light to digest it does not cause adverse reactions such as nausea or stomach pain in those who consume it.
8, Helper during cold
A lettuce infusion can help fight colds. In addition to all the benefits that lettuce has, it helps to strengthen the respiratory tract, for this reason it is recommended to take a lettuce tea before cold symptoms.
Along with this benefit, there is that of relaxing. Thanks to the fact that it contains lactucarium, which provides relaxation and calm, during a flu it can be of great help to calm the aches and pains due to the cut body.
9. It helps you lose weight
Perhaps the best-known property of lettuce is to help you lose weight. For this reason, lettuce is included in multiple dishes related to low-calorie diets, mainly salads.
Thanks to its high amount of fiber and water, its satiating property and the multiple vitamins that contains, it is one of the ideal foods to have a healthy, complete diet, low in calories and satiating.
10. Prevents certain types of cancer
Lettuce contains beta-carotenes, which help prevent some types of cancer. In addition, it helps to stimulate the production of immune cells. This property, together with its beta-carotene content, helps prevent certain types of cancer, especially the colon.
Although it has also been shown that by strengthening the immune system and by the ability to strengthen the respiratory system it could help prevent lung cancer as well. Studies are currently being carried out to find out if lettuce could also prevent prostate cancer.
Bibliographic references
- Davey, M. R.; Anthony, P.; Van Hooff, P.; Power, J. B.; Lowe,, K. C. (2007). "Lettuce". Transgenic Crops. Biotechnology in Agriculture and Forestry. Volume 59. Springer.
- Katz, Solomon H.; Weaver, Williams Woys (2003). Encyclopedia of Food and Culture. Volume 2. Scribner.
- Watts, Donald. Dictionary of Plant Lore. Academic Press.