One of the most interesting lettuce health benefits is for fertility, in addition to keep fetus stay health, folates also helps in increasing fertility. Lettuce is one of low calories vegetables, in every 100 gr raw green leaves lettuce, only contain 15 calories.
The highest lettuce nutrition are Vitamin A and Vitamin K, where vitamin A content in every 100 gr is 7405 IU meanwhile vitamin K in the same size about 126.3 µg. There are so many nutrient in lettuce that you can read completely at the bottom of the post. First lets talk about lettuce health benefits.
9 Lettuce Health Benefits
1. Prevent cancer
According to the American Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society, foods rich in vitamin A and C may help prevent certain cancers. Lettuce contains both vitamin.
2. Provides nutrition during pregnancy and lactation
Folic acid in lettuce helps prevent megaloblastic anemia during pregnancy. This was demonstrated in a series of experiments on the mother who eat lettuce, free from nutritional anemia. Eating lettuce also have a major effect on the secretion of the hormone progesterone. Eating lettuce with spinach, asparagus, peas, and cauliflower increasing folic acid or vitamin B from the diet. Approximately 300-500 mcg vitamin is required during the last trimester of pregnancy. Deficiency of this vitamin causes megaloblastic anemia.
3. Soothing sexual arousal
Researchers at the University of California shows a series of experiments whose results lettuce has a calming effect on sexual desire, a strong influence on increasing the level of fertility. Although these findings seem controversial, lettuce is often recommended to help men suffering from premature ejaculation.
4. Improving fertility
Fresh lettuce containing folates and vitamin C. Folates helps in keeping a healthy fetus during pregnancy to reduce the possibility of complications: this also helps in improving the reproductive health of men and women. Thus folates helps in increasing fertility. While Vitamin C helps to boost the immune system and helps to fight infection.
5. Help prevent age-related macular degeneration
Lettuce contains zeaxanthin which help in improving eyesight; absorbed by the retinal macula lutea. Zeaxanthin has antioxidant properties and also helps in the prevention of cataracts. Also, the flavonoids in lettuce help prevent lung cancer and mouth.
6. Strengthen bones
Lettuce rich in vitamin K, which helps in strengthening bones by increasing activity and increased bone mass osteotrophic also helps in preventing osteoporosis. Vitamin K also reduces brain damage and therefore helps in the prevention of Alzheimer's disease.
7. Keeping the weight
Lettuce is very good for dieters because it is very low in calories, on average only 1-50 per serving. Lettuce is also rich in water, allowing the body to hydrated. The lettuce also contain fiber, which helps digestion and gives a sense of fullness for longer.
8. Prevent birth defects
Lettuce is rich in folic acid, which is known to help prevent birth defects in the early stages of pregnancy. Also prevent anemia.
9. Fight insomnia
Consume lettuce helps fight insomnia because it contains sleep-inducing substance called lactucarium. It is a mild opiate substances that exist in virtually all types of lettuce.
Lettuce Nutrition Facts
There are still many benefits that we can get by consume lettuce, for more lettuce nutritional information, below you can read the explanation.
Lettuce is a good source of chlorophyll and vitamin K. Rich in mineral salts with alkali elements are very dominating. This is what helps keep blood clean, your mind and body in good health.
Lettuce leaves are rich in lutein and beta-carotene. Also supplies vitamin C and K, calcium, fiber, folate, and iron. Vitamin K helps the blood clot. Other nutrients are vitamin A and B6, folic acid lycopene, potassium, and zeaxanthin. Lettuce contains alkaloids that are responsible for the therapeutic effect.
| Principle | Nutrient Value | Percentage of RDA |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 15 Kcal | 1 % |
| Carbohydrates | 2.79 g | 2% |
| Protein | 1.36 g | 2% |
| Total Fat | 0.15 g | 0.5% |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.3 g | 3% |
| Vitamins | ||
| Folates | 38 µg | 9.5% |
| Niacin | 0.375 mg | 2% |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.134 mg | 2.5% |
| Pyridoxine | 0.090 mg | 7% |
| Riboflavin | 0.080 mg | 6 % |
| Thiamin | 0.070 mg | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 7405 IU | 247% |
| Vitamin C | 9.2 mg | 15% |
| Vitamin E-α | 0.29 mg | 2% |
| Vitamin K | 126.3 µg | 105% |
| Electrolytes | ||
| Sodium | 28 mg | 2% |
| Potassium | 194 mg | 4% |
| Minerals | ||
| Calcium | 36 mg | 3.5% |
| Copper | 0.029 mg | 3% |
| Iron | 0.86 mg | 10% |
| Magnesium | 13 mg | 3% |
| Manganese | 0.250 mg | 11% |
| Phosphorus | 29 mg | 4% |
| Zinc | 0.18 mg | 1.5% |
| Phyto-nutrients | ||
| Carotene-ß | 4443 µg | -- |
| Crypto-xanthin-ß | 0 µg | -- |
| Lutein-zeaxanthin | 1730 µg | -- |