As per the USDA, lettuce contains a high water content, as well as small amounts of energy, protein, fat, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, and sugars. The minerals and vitamins found in it include calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc along with B-vitamins like thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, vitamin B6, and vitamins C, A, E, and K.
Carbs and Calories in Lettuce
As per Food Data Central, 100 grams of green leaf lettuce contains about 2.9 g of carbohydrates and 15 calories.
Health Benefits of Lettuce
For thousands of years, this leaf has been cultivated as more than a vegetable. It possesses several amazing health benefits, they include the following.
Anti-inflammatory Agent
Lettuce possesses anti-inflammatory properties that help in controlling inflammation. In experimental models, lettuce extracts have shown significant controlling power over inflammation induced by biocatalysts like lipoxygenase and carrageenan. More research is needed in this arena to bolster these results.
Close-up of fresh green lettuce leaves on a wooden table
Fresh lettuce adds a crisp crunch to salads and sandwiches. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Lowers Cholesterol Levels
Lettuce can be beneficial in lowering high cholesterol levels that often lead to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and other dangerous conditions. High LDL cholesterol levels are harmful and can cause heart attack and stroke. A study was conducted on rodents to test the impact of lettuce consumption on fat and cholesterol.
The results indicated a significant reduction of cholesterol levels as compared to mice that weren’t fed lettuce. Lipid peroxidation was observed in most cases, which was concluded to be responsible for this form of cholesterol control. These results suggest that lettuce could be contributory as a method to reduce the risk factors of CVD.
Induces Sleep
One of the major traditional uses of lettuce in Unani medicine was as a sleep inducer. Research into the extracts of lettuce resulted in the isolation of a depressant chemical. This chemical, when administered in experimental animals, showed significant sedative effects.
A 2013 research report, suggests that the main component(s) responsible for this effect in lettuce is most likely to be the non-polar agent(s), which are found in the n-butanol fraction (NBF) of this plant. Decreased heart rate and ventricular contractions were also observed. This particular chemical acts by blocking the excitatory signal processes of muscular and neural tissues. The effects of lettuce on sleep are compared to those of diazepam.
Antioxidant Agent
Published in the journal Ancient Science of Life Journal, one study stated that lettuce possesses antioxidants with significant free radical-scavenging capabilities. Antioxidants are a wide range of biochemicals mostly found in our diet. They are also very necessary for human health and disease prevention.
Antioxidants act as barriers to free radicals, which are produced during cellular metabolism. These free radicals can attack healthy tissues, cells, and DNA inside them. Antioxidants, on the other hand, counteract these free radicals and neutralize them before the free radical attacks take place.
Health benefits of lettuce infographic
Lettuce is a healthy salad staple.
Antimicrobial Agent
The latex of lettuce possesses antimicrobial properties. When coming into contact with latex from lettuce, research has shown that Candida albicans and many other yeasts were completely deformed. Biochemicals that are considered to possess these antimicrobial properties are the terpenes and cardenolides, as well as enzymes like glucanases. Studies such as these have positive implications for the antimicrobial abilities of this vegetable.
Helps Relieve Anxiety
The neurological properties of lettuce, as mentioned earlier, have long been suggested during ancient times and the Middle Ages in medical treaties, such as the Unani system. A 2012 research paper published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease has led to the conclusion that lettuce possesses anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) properties. When lab animals were given lettuce extracts, their locomotive activity was reduced, suggesting implications in human populations. As per NIH, leafy greens such as lettuce are also positively associated with our cognitive health.
Simple Recipes
A few recipes are given below that can be easily tried at home.
Vegetable salad: Cut a tomato, cucumber, radish, carrot, red pepper, yellow pepper, and lettuce leaves. Add the cut vegetables to a bowl. Season with salt, pepper, a dash of olive oil, and lime juice. You can also try our Avocado Shrimp Salad With Zesty Lettuce Dressing here. You can also try our amazing fattoush salad recipe here – Fresh & Zingy Fattoush Salad Recipe.
Corn lettuce salad: Boil one cup of corn and let it cool. Cut some lettuce, onion, and tomato, and put it in a bowl. Add the boiled corn to this mixture. Season the mixture with salt, pepper, olive oil, and lime juice. You can add other vegetables like boiled baby potatoes, mushrooms, or peas, or even throw in some boiled chicken or fish.
Word of Caution: A study report published in the Journal of Investigational Allergology and Clinical Immunology, has shown that even lettuce can produce allergies, and the allergen proteins have been identified. Food allergies are the abnormal response of the immune system to certain types of food that the body recognizes as harmful. Food allergies that result in anaphylaxis are the worst kind and according to the Center for Disease Control, they are on the rise. People who already suffer from food allergies are generally at risk when trying new foods. So, a word of caution is advised while eating lettuce for the first time.
