5 Ways Lettuce Can Boost Your Immune System
Fond of eating at Korean BBQ Restaurants in Singapore? People should know that when you eat at this kind of restaurant, one of the main highlights of eating here is different variations of meat and seafood that are paired and wrapped in Lettuce (which makes it more exciting!).
Lettuce, Lactuca sativa, is a leafy herbaceous annual or biennial plant in the family Asteraceae grown for its leaves used as a salad green. The lettuce plant can vary significantly in size, shape, and leaf type, but generally, the plant leaves form a dense head or loose rosette.
The plant's stem is short, with larger leaves arranged at the bottom and becoming progressively smaller further up the stem. Leaves can be smooth or curly and are usually green or red. The lettuce plant can grow to a height of 30–100 cm (12–40 in) in size and is typically produced annually, harvested after only one growing season. Lettuce may be referred to as garden lettuce and is believed to originate from Asia Minor and the Middle East.
Like the other vegetables in the market, Lettuce has its way of giving nutrients to our bodies, significantly strengthening our Immune systems. To keep the Immune System strong, it's essential to feed the body with the right kinds of food to prevent colds, flu, and other infections.
Rich in Vitamins C and K
Vegetables such as spinach, kale, chard, collard greens, arugula, and lettuce provide many health benefits. Since they contain high levels of vitamins C and K and beta carotene, folate, and fiber, they’re also powerful immune boosters.
May Fight Inflammation
Specific proteins in lettuce, like lipoxygenase, help control inflammation. The vitamins A, E, and K in lettuce may help lower inflammation. You can usually include two cups of raw leafy greens in your diet regularly. In addition, the darker the lettuce, the more antioxidants it has, and the better it can fight inflammation.
Lettuce is also known as a pain-safe food. It may never contribute to arthritis or related painful conditions. However, more research is needed in this regard.
It may Aid in Weight Loss
One primary reason lettuce can be an excellent weight-loss food is its calories. One serving of lettuce contains just five calories. Moreover, lettuce helps bridge the micronutrient gap that is otherwise hard to achieve on a low-calorie diet.
Lettuce is also low in energy density. This is especially true with Romaine lettuce, which is 95% water and offers 1 gram of fiber per cup. Fiber keeps you full and discourages binging. Lettuce is also extremely low in fat. However, no direct research states that lettuce may help with weight loss.
May Promote Brain Health
Extreme brain harm can lead to the death of neuronal cells, leading to severe brain diseases like Alzheimer’s. The lettuce extracts, as per numerous studies, the lettuce extracts controlled this neuronal cell death due to its role in GSD or glucose/serum deprivation.
Lettuce is also rich in dietary nitrate. This compound is converted to nitric oxide in the body, a cellular signaling molecule promoting endothelial function. The reduction of endothelial function contributes to cognitive decline and other neurological disorders related to aging. The intake of lettuce can slow this down.
May Boost Heart Health
Lettuce is a good source of folate, a B vitamin that converts homocysteine into methioninein. Unconverted homocysteine can damage the blood vessels and lead to the accumulation of plaque, thereby damaging the heart.
Lettuce also contains potassium which lowers blood pressure and prevents heart disease. Lettuce consumption can also increase HDL (the good cholesterol) and reduce the levels of LDL.
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