The benefits of lettuce for health are very diverse. Several types of substances and important nutrients contained in lettuce are believed to have a good effect on maintaining a healthy body and preventing various diseases.
Lettuce is usually tucked into a burger dish, sandwich, or mixed with other vegetables, such as in gado-gado, pickles, or salads. Unfortunately, there are still many people who do not realize the various benefits of lettuce that are important for body health.
Various Benefits of Lettuce for Health
There are various types of lettuce. The types that we often encounter are green lettuce, red lettuce, and bokor lettuce. The following are the various benefits of lettuce that can be taken:
1. Prevents dehydration
One of the important benefits of lettuce is to help meet the body's fluid needs and prevent dehydration. Although the role is not as big as drinking water, eating foods with a high water content, such as lettuce, can also be very helpful.
The water content in lettuce is very high, even reaching 96%. Plus, lettuce also contains other nutrients, such as minerals, vitamins, and fiber, which can help the body absorb fluids better than drinking water alone.
2. Fight free radicals
Thanks to its high content of antioxidants anthocyanins, beta carotene, and vitamin C, lettuce is useful for protecting the body from free radicals. With these benefits, the body will be stronger against infection and avoid various diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, and high cholesterol.
3. Maintain eye health
The benefits of lettuce that are equally important are increasing visual acuity, preventing retinal damage, and maintaining overall eye health.
This is thanks to the antioxidants beta carotene and vitamin A which are found in lettuce. Adding just 1–2 servings of lettuce to your diet several times per week can help you meet your needs for this vitamin.
4. Maintain bone health
In addition to vitamin A which is good for eye health, lettuce also contains a lot of vitamin K which is important for bone growth and development. Adequate intake of vitamin K is known to prevent osteoporosis and fractures.
5. Lose weight
While no studies have specifically linked lettuce to weight loss, this low-calorie, high-water and fiber vegetable can keep you feeling fuller for longer.
In addition, the high fiber content can also facilitate digestion. Indirectly, these two things can really help you to lose weight. Therefore, lettuce is worth trying as part of your healthy diet.
6. Help lower blood pressure
Thanks to its adequate potassium content, lettuce not only helps lower blood pressure, but is also beneficial for controlling blood pressure. This is important because high and unstable blood pressure can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, such as coronary heart disease and stroke.
In addition, lettuce also contains important nutrients, such as magnesium, potassium, folate, and vitamin C, which can help improve heart health in the long term and reduce the risk of various heart diseases.
To get the benefits of lettuce, choose lettuce that is fresh and not brown or wilted, and avoid lettuce that looks slimy. However, keep in mind that lettuce alone cannot meet your nutritional needs.
Include a variety of other healthy foods, fruits and vegetables in your diet. Don't forget to always balance a nutritious diet with a healthy lifestyle.
You also need to know that these vegetables are at risk of causing allergies, especially in people who have allergies to plant products, such as peanuts and soy. However, this rarely happens. And be careful, eating lettuce directly in large quantities can also cause digestive problems.
If you can't eat lettuce, eat other types of vegetables to get enough fiber, vitamins, and minerals. If necessary, consult with your doctor about the types of vegetables that are good for you to consume, according to your condition.