There’s very little that we know about lettuce! We often see them in our burgers or in our salads but we don’t know much about them beyond the taste and interesting texture that they provide to our food. These leafy wonders are a healthy addition to popular foods like burgers, salads and tacos, and are famous for being rich in Vitamin K and A.
Let’s explore the world of lettuce a little more, shall we?
Known to have its origins in Egypt, lettuce has always been a popular vegetable.
Read on to know all about the benefits of lettuce.
- Induces Sleep
Lettuce is known to contain lactucarium – a chemical very similar to the infamous opium. It is a white, milky substance found within the leaves. This substance has known to help people relax and enhance their sleep without the individual any side effects.
- Antibacterial and Antifungal Properties
Lactucarium is known for its antibacterial and antifungal properties which help to eradicate various types of yeasts including Candida Albicans. It also helps protect your body from harmful microbes that are caused due to the biochemical terpenes and cardenolides.
- Hydration
A bowl of lettuce is enough to help you stay hydrated because of the significant amount of potassium that is present in it. Potassium helps maintain the fluid balance in one’s body which is extremely essential for the organs to function well.
- Controls Anxiety
Studies have shown that lettuce not only helps enhance one’s sleep but can also control an individual’s anxiety. Hence, people who have issues with anxiety should include it in their daily diet.
- Aids Weight Loss
Lettuce is rich in fibre and cellulose and low on calories and fat. The cellulose present in the lettuce, makes you feel full and prevents you from overeating. It is great for waste removal and promotes the excretion of bile acids in faeces, which in turn reduces one’s cholesterol levels.
- Beneficial For Skin
Lettuce is rich in terpenes, cardenolides, and glucanases. These contain antibacterial properties which can be used to ward off skin infections. The Omega 3 present in lettuce helps treat minor skin infections that can be linked to acne.
The Omega 3 manages the production of sebum and therefore adds moisture to the skin. Being a potent antioxidant, Omega 3 slows down the degeneration of skin cells.
So now that you know the benefits of lettuce, let’s try and include it in our daily diet with various recipes with the ready to eat salads at Nature’s Basket.