Health Benefits of Lettuce And Its Side Effects

Cutting or breaking lettuce leaves reveal a white liquid called lactucarium that helps to deal with insomnia. This liquid has the relaxing and sleep inducing properties of opium but does not possess its side effects. If you are having trouble sleeping, you could try to have a few leaves of lettuce.

Lettuce possesses antioxidants that act against the free radicals in our bodies which are formed due to cellular metabolism. These radicals tend to harm the healthy tissues and cells. They may even cause the development of cancer by mutating healthy cells into cancerous cells. Antioxidants work to protect us against this.

Lettuce leaf extracts can prevent the spread of leukemia cells and breast cancer cells. Lettuce also contains flavonoids which help to protect the body from lung and oral cavity cancers. Thus incorporating lettuce in your diet can help to fight different types of cancer.

It is of vital importance that our body properly metabolizes the food that we intake. Otherwise, it will not be possible for us to get the required energy that is required to function properly. Due to the presence of iron, magnesium and potassium, lettuce intake helps to improve the metabolic processes in our body. Lettuce also contains Vitamin B-complex which aids our metabolism.

High levels of bad cholesterol in our body can lead to cardiovascular diseases. Lettuce contains Vitamin C and beta-carotene that work together to prevent the artery walls forming as plaques which can block off and break the blood flow. Thus lettuce prevents the oxidation of cholesterol and thus protects our heart against diseases.

Extracts from lettuce, due to its significant role in glucose or serum deprivation, help to prevent death of neuron cells. Neurons are brain cells that make physical connections and help to make memory. Lettuce thus helps to prevent onset of diseases like Parkinson’s which is caused due to the death of neuron cells.

Lettuce has antimicrobial properties and helps to fight the harmful microbes that may cause various diseases. This is due to the presence of terpenes and cardenolides which work to defend our body against bad microbes.

Lettuce has anxiolytic properties that help to control anxiety. Lettuce has a role in neurological health process and so helps to deal with mental problems such as depression.

Minerals present in lettuce help to remove the toxins from our body. This helps to maintain the acid balance. Removing the toxins help us to remain healthy as only the beneficial substances are left behind.

Lettuce extracts have anti-inflammatory properties due to the presence of biocatalysts like lipoxygenase and carrageenan. Thus various ailments resulting from inflammation can be avoided by including lettuce in your diet.