What are the Health Benefits of Lettuce?
Do you like green salads with crunchy lettuce and other fresh veggies? Besides being a very healthy recipe due to its interesting nutrients that help us improve the functioning of our body, lettuce in particular is very beneficial because it contains a series of properties that protect both our internal and external health.
In this OneHowTo article we will reveal what are the health benefits of lettuce so that you understand how good it is for our body.
One of the most important health benefits of lettuce is that it takes care of our digestive system. This vegetable is rich in soluble fiber components such as pectin, which makes it easier to metabolize what we consume through a slower release of the glucose contained in this food. Furthermore, this energy can be accessed for burning throughout the day, thus keeping it from being stored in the body.
However, because of its high fiber content lettuce is not recommended for eating at night as, if nutrients are not used, it ends up causing gas and bloating that in turn will lead us to not rest as well. Lettuce, then, is better at lunchtime.
In addition, the high fiber content makes lettuce perfect to cleanse and detox our body naturally because it regulates intestinal transit promoting natural internal purification. The elimination of toxins is further promoted by the high vitamin C content.
Helps to lose weight
If you want to lose weight or watch your figure there is nothing better than adding lettuce to your diet. Why? Because this vegetable is packed with essential nutrients for the optimal functioning of our body and is also very low in calories; in fact for every 100 grams of this vegetable our body only ingests 15 calories.
This allows us to eat until we're full with a width of vitamins and minerals without our figure suffering in the slightest. So if you are following a weight-loss diet one of the most recommended tricks is to start your lunch with a salad as it will reduce your appetite in a completely healthy way and with hardly any calories.
In addition, we must not forget that as lettuce is rich in fiber, a component that promotes a feeling of satiety, it reduces our hunger between meals. You will satisfy your appetite with a smaller amount of food.
Another health benefit of lettuce is that it is rich in vitamin K, a nutrient that helps us produce osteocalcin, essential for our bone tissue. Therefore, by eating lettuce regularly we will be promoting this protein and our bones will be stronger and healthier.
In addition, lettuce is rich in minerals like calcium and phosphorus which are perfect to maintain bone health in optimal condition. The density of our bones is enhanced by lettuce, so many doctors and experts advise daily intake, especially in patients with osteoporosis or as a method for preventing this disease.
Improves skin health
Lettuce is also an ideal ingredient to improve skin health because it contains antioxidants such as beta carotene (also present in other vegetables like carrots, for example). These components are able to reduce the effect of free radicals, reducing and their impact on our organism and thus preventing the premature ageing of our cells.
Vitamin C, also present in lettuce, helps improve skin health by preventing the formation of wrinkles: this nutrient promotes the production of collagen, the substance that enables our skin to remain elastic so that we look young for longer.
Surely you've heard more than once that carrots are good for eyesight, but why? The reason for this statement is that carrots are an rich in beta carotene, the above-mentioned antioxidant. Lettuce, then, besides making skin more radiant, also improves eye health.
Antioxidants are compounds that help stop premature ageing in the body and get all organs to function at peak performance. The health of the retina also benefits from their presence, which prevents the degeneration of this tissue.
Useful in treating anaemia
In addition, another notable health benefit of lettuce is that it is an excellent food to treat anemia because it contains high levels of iron. This mineral increases levels of hemoglobin in red blood cells and thus helps to overcome conditions such as anemia and the adverse effects it produces including dizziness and weakness.
In this OneHowTo article we tell you how to cure anemia through your diet with some nutritional tips that will be of great help to you.
This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.
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