Lettuce is considered as the king of salad plants and one of the most widely consumed vegetables in the world. It is native to Europe and Asia but today is grown all through the world. Including marshy and sandy, it can be grown in a wide variety of soils. Lettuce belongs to the daisy family Asteraceae. Generally lettuce is eaten raw in Burgers, salads, Mexican tacos and many other Chinese dishes also. Lettuce derives its name from the milky juice (“latex”) referring to the plant’s milky juice. Here is provided method to prepare lettuce juice and also see various health benefits of it.
There are six different types of Lettuce such as Chinese lettuce, Summer Crisp, Looseleaf, Crisphead from Iceberg, Romaine and Butterhead from Boston. All these varieties differ in color of the leaves, size and texture. Broadly two varieties are used the loose leaf lettuce and the true head lettuce. In the loose leaf lettuce, the leaves hang on all side and the head lettuce is like a cabbage with the leaves drawn together. The loose leaf lettuce is regarded as better food because it is rich in iron and also has more vitamin A and C than the stem variety since it is more exposed to the sun. Greener leaf has more chlorophyll and vitamins.
Several health-building qualities and many medicinal virtues are contained by lettuce. The lettuce juice is cool and refreshing as well as the high content of magnesium in the juice has exceptional power to vitalize the muscular tissues. It is best to use the leaves that are of the darker shade of green when making juice from lettuce for definite therapeutic purposes. The lettuce juice combined with carrot juice is very helpful. The caloric value of lettuce is low but its high nutritional content makes it a healthy food. Lettuce has rich contents of mineral salts especially the alkaline elements. Lettuce used for consumption should be fresh green-leaved.
Health Benefits of Lettuce Juice
Hair Loss:
To give strength to hair roots, fresh extract of lettuce blended with extract of spinach and carrots should be consumed. Weak hair roots are responsible for rapid hair loss. To gain optimum results, about 250 ml of this blend should be consumed three to four times during a day.
Bone Strength:
To strengthen weak bones, Spinach and lettuce juices blended in equivalent proportions should be consumed daily two to three times. Phosphorus present in lettuce helps in better absorption of calcium from semi-digested foods. Calcium is essential component for strong bones as well as dental health.
Constipation:
The rich content of cellulose in Lettuce makes it good roughage for the body. It assists to boost the bulk of intestinal contents and improves peristalsis. Therefore, Lettuce is used for curing constipation and other stomach disorders. Combination of lettuce juice, with lime juice, mint juice and honey is an effective medicine and is used for treating dyspepsia, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, jaundice, morning sickness and piles.
Weight Control:
For calorie conscious persons, it is advisable to consume lettuce in addition with other green vegetables due to the small quantity of calorie present in lettuce. Besides delivering low calories, regular consumption of lettuce endows with sufficient supply of vitamin K, A, calcium, phosphorus, good carbs, protein and riboflavin.
Relieve headache:
The effect of Lettuce juice is like tranquilizing effect of opium but the former lacks the accompanying excitement. A mixture of lettuce juice and oil of roses, if applied to the temples and forehead, stimulates sleep in patients of insomnia and relieves head-ache.
Insomnia:
Lettuce contains a substance called ‘lectucarium’ which has the ability to induce sleep. Thus lettuce is used in the treatment of insomnia. To get rid of insomnia, consume a decoction for ten days prepared with lettuce seeds boiled in 500 ml water till the time only one third remains.
Ulcers:
Glutamine, a type of amino acid is contained by lettuce which protects and strengthens the cells in stomach that helps to prevent ulcers from forming.
Anemia:
Lettuce has rich quantities of iron and adds hemoglobin to the blood. For patients suffering from Anemia, it is used as an excellent tonic food. The absorption of this iron, in the body is better and much more than that provided by iron tonics.
Pregnancy:
Lettuce helps in the avoidance of habitual abortions. It influences the secretion and release of progesterone hormone that is responsible for lactation in feeding mothers.
Healthy Heart:
To maintain good cardiac health, a person should frequently eat Lettuce salads. Regular intake of lettuce based salads or meals limit the oxidation of cholesterol in body which further leads to balanced cholesterol levels in body and reduced chances of cardiovascular diseases.
Cancer Fighter:
Lettuce contains phytonutrients which signal the body to produce enzymes involved in the detoxification of the body. These enzymes help to fight free radicals that can cause different types of cancer, including lung and prostate cancer.
Improve sexual disorders:
Several types of sexual disorders are treated by Lettuce juice. Consuming lettuce juice regularly helps in improving fertility rate and increases the sperm count. Intake of fresh lettuce juice improves erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation in males. It also helps in relaxing sexual passion.
Alzheimer’s disease:
Lettuce has special antioxidants called polyphenols which helps to protect brain cells from being damaged.
Diabetes:
Lettuce contains less carbohydrate therefore it is prescribed for diabetes. It can be used freely by diabetics.
Other benefits:
- Lettuce is also associated with the better health of liver.
- Lettuce has huge amounts of folic acid which prevents neural-tube birth defects in the initial stages of the pregnancy.
- Lettuce prevents spina bifida.
- Lettuce is recommended for those suffering from nervous cough problem.
- Lettuce is very helpful in treating inflammation of colon, circulatory problems, arthritis and acidity.
- Considerable amounts of magnesium in lettuce helpful for brain and muscle activities.
- Lettuce reduces the risk of cataracts and heart stroke due to the presence of beta-carotene.
- It is a perfect snack for people trying to reduce weight as lettuce has very low amounts of calories.
- People suffering from Uti, T.B, stress, IBS, gout and other digestion problems can have benefit from lettuce.
- All lettuce is a good source of chlorophyll and vitamin K.
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