Lettuce, scientifically known as Lactuca sativa, was
first cultivated by the Egyptians thousands of years ago. The Egyptians
used the seeds to produce oil and also utilized the leaves of this
useful vegetable.
The plant also had cultural and religious significance in ancient
Egypt, as it was considered to be sacred. Later, the Greeks and Romans
also cultivated this crop.What are the health benefits of lettuce?
Lettuce contains a number of vitamins and nutrients. In
ancient times it was used for medicinal purpose and today, modern
scientists have confirmed it’s many health benefits.
Here are 5 health benefits of lettuce worth knowing
1. It is an 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.
2. Lettuce helps to fight insomnia
One of the major traditional uses of lettuce 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. If you suffer
from insomnia include lettuce in your diet.
3. Helps Weight Loss
Lettuce contains fiber and cellulose. Besides filling you up, fiber improves your digestion. Improving your digestion may not sound like a good thing for losing weight, but it is actually essential for long-term weight control.Fiber also helps remove bile salts from the body. When the body replaces these salts it breaks down cholesterol to do so.
4. Antioxidant Agent
Antioxidants are a wide range of biochemicals mostly found
in our diet; they are also very necessary for human health. Studies have
shown that lettuce possesses antioxidants with significant free
radical-scavenging capabilities.
5. Helps to Control Anxiety
The neurological properties of lettuce have long been
suggested and exploited during ancient times and the Middle Ages in
medical treaties such as the Unani system. In modern times, research has
shown that lettuce can have anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) properties.
No comments: