Health Benefits Of Crunchy Lettuce

Add as a preferred source on Google

The crunchy and juicy green vegetable, lettuce is omnipresent in sandwich, burgers and salads. Yes, we're talking about lettuce, the ubiquitous vegetable that goes well with almost anything that you add to it. Lettuce belongs to the sunflower family and is known for its limitless health benefits. There are two kinds of lettuce- Romaine and iceberg. The former has long and sturdy leaves with a firm rib. The latter resembles cabbage and is like an iceberg and is more crunchy.

Lettuce is a heart healthy and diet-friendly green vegetable. It is an integral part of everyone's diet in the present day. Check out the health benefits of lettuce.

Lettuce is extremely rich in vitamins, phytonutrients and folates. A bowl of lettuce has Vitamin C more than that of an orange. It not only cools the body naturally but also cures mouth ulcers. It is also a powerful and natural antioxidant that helps the body develop resistance against infectious diseases. One of the health benefits of including lettuce in diet is, it boosts the immune system.

Protein- Lettuce has about 18% protein just a little lesser than Greek yogurt. This makes up for all 8 essential amino acids that are required by the body to aid digestion.

Folates- Folates or folic acid is one of the primary vitamin that is required by pregnant women. It prevents spina bifida or neural tube defects. It is abundant in lettuce and also nourishes the embryo with all vital nutrients. So, pregnant women must have lettuce to enjoy its numerous health benefits.

Minerals- One of the health benefits of lettuce is, it contains good amounts of minerals like calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium and copper which are important for the metabolism of the body. Potassium plays an important role in controlling the body fluids thereby controlling heart rate and blood pressure. Manganese is a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase while copper is required for the constant production of red blood cells. Iron is most definitely essential for the haemoglobin, a shortfall of which causes anemia.

Low calorie- Lettuce is a diet-friendly vegetable for people with cholesterol and high obesity levels. It is very low in calorie but rich in nutrients thus providing the right balance for a healthy and toned body.

Water- You may be bored of eating cucumbers, but lettuce is another alternative. One head of romaine meets about 16% of your daily water requirements thus keeping your body hydrated and cool.

Fiber- A bowl of caesar's salad made out of lettuce can be equivalent to eating a bowl of cereals and a banana. It is rich in fiber thus providing relief for people with constipation problems.

These are few health benefits of eating lettuce in your diet.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.