Lettuce is one of the popular and sought after green vegetables be it for your crunchy salad or healthy sandwiches. It has incredible sources of essential nutrients that benefit health. Lettuce leaves contain moisture, energy, protein, fats, carbohydrates and dietary fiber. The minerals and vitamins found in lettuce leaves include calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, sodium, zinc along with vitamins like thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folate, vitamin B-6, C, A, K and vitamin K.
Let’s have a look at some amazing health benefits of lettuce and how it can be used:
1 . Helps Reduce Weight
Lettuce leaves are low calorie, low sugar food plus they are high in fiber content so this makes it ideal for people trying to lose weight and is considered to be the most famous diet food. The phytonutrients have excellent disease prevention properties too.
-A delicious and healthy concoction: juice together 1 lettuce, 1 cup kale, 1 cup spinach, I medium stalk celery, 1 medium cucumber, 1 medium carrot, 1 medium beet. Have it immediately. Can season it with salt and pepper.
2 . Improves Quality Of Sleep
Lettuce is packed with a compound called lactucarium which helps in treating insomnia. It helps induce relaxation and sleep.
-You can include lettuce and olives for your dinner. In a bowl add black olives, green olives, a bit of chopped onion, chopped tomatoes, chopped cucumbers,bell peppers, grated cheddar cheese lettuce leaves. Mix properly and add salt, pepper and lime juice.
3 . Strengthens Bones
Lettuce is rich in Vitamin K which helps in strengthening bones. Regular intake of lettuce leaves helps in preventing osteoporosis and Vitamin K also reduces brain damage and helps in preventing Alzheimer’s disease.
-A fresh healthy salad can be prepared by combining in a bowl chopped tomatoes, radish, carrots, red capsicum, yellow capsicum and torn lettuce leaves. Season it with salt, pepper, a dash of olive oil and lime juice.
4 . Lowers Cholesterol
Lettuce leaves can be beneficial in lowering cholesterol levels. High cholesterol levels particularly LDL can cause heart attack and stroke.
-A corn lettuce Salad is a healthy dish to include along with your meals. Boil one cup of corn and let it cool. Cut some lettuce, onion and tomatoes and put in a bowl. Add boiled corn to this mixture. Season with salt, pepper, olive oil and lime juice. You can also add other vegetables like boiled baby potatoes, mushrooms or peas or even some boiled chicken or fish.
5 . Fights Ageing
Lettuce has antioxidant properties with significant free radical- scavenging capabilities, thereby delaying ageing. Antioxidants reduce the ill effects of free radicals that can damage the cells and induce ageing.
-A tasty potato dish can be prepared by adding lettuce leaves. In a pan heat oil and add chopped potatoes. Cook till golden brown. Keep aside. Again heat oil in a pan and add half teaspoon carom seeds (ajwain), ginger, green chillies and cook for a minute. Add potatoes and season with salt. Now add the chopped lettuce leaves, some salt and red chilli powder. Cook on high heat for just 2 to 3 minutes. Ideally there should be some crunch left in the lettuce when you take it off the heat.