One of the most popular diet foods is lettuce. Their calorific value is extremely low, and the benefit to the body is simply colossal.
A bit about salad
Paradoxically, people rarely include lettuce in their diet. Its calorie content is quite low, and therefore they can’t be full. This product more often serves as decoration of festive dishes, which are abundantly watered with mayonnaise. If we talk about supporters of diets and proper nutrition, then they well know the price of fresh lettuce.
It is worth noting that at the moment in the world there are more than 1000 varieties of salads. This is an annual (in some cases two-year-old) plant, which belongs to the family of aster, or Asteraceae. There are so many varieties of lettuce that sometimes even experienced gardeners get confused in them.
In ancient times, this culture was cultivated solely for the sake of oil, which was extracted from seeds. Later, tender leaves appeared on the table of the ancient Greeks and Romans. They appreciated not only the taste, but also the healing qualities of this product.
Popular Salad Varieties
The calorie content of lettuce (fresh) leaves is very low, and there are a great many vitamins and minerals in it. In addition, the bright color and beautiful shape make this product an excellent decoration for any dish. At the moment, the most popular are the following varieties of salad:
- Romain is a leader among salads. It is a large inflorescence of several green leaves, which is somewhat reminiscent of cabbage. Most often it is used in sandwiches or as a decoration.
- Watercress is one of the most healthy of its kind. It has a slight mustard taste, which can be explained by an increased content of trace elements. This is a great option for combating spring vitamin deficiency.
- Coral got its name because of its characteristic appearance. Light nutty flavor will give an original touch to any dish. And in terms of the amount of calcium and mineral salts, this variety overtook all others.
Lettuce: calories
Now closer to the topic of our article. If you follow the figure or strive to follow the principles of proper nutrition, then by all means include lettuce in your diet. Calorie content in 100g - 16 kcal. Nutritional value is determined by the content of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. The first two elements are contained in a negligible amount (1.5 g and 0.2 g, respectively). As for carbohydrates, which give the product calories, they are present in the salad in an amount of 2 grams.
Chemical composition
A huge amount of nutrients contain lettuce. Calorie content, although small, but this does not detract from the benefits of the product. So, the composition of this culture includes a whole vitamin complex - A, B (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6), C, K, E and others. Speaking of trace elements, it is worth noting the presence of manganese, copper, zinc and iron (it is even more in salad than in apples). The leaves contain a lot of calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus.
Salad leaves: calorie content and beneficial properties
Given the fact that fresh lettuce leaves are characterized by extremely low calorie content and a high content of vitamins and nutrients, we can judge their exceptional benefits for the human body. So, it has the following positive effect:
- enhances the protective functions of the body;
- contributes to the normalization of the central nervous system;
- helps restore strength after an illness;
- contributes to the normalization of sleep and has a light sleeping pill;
- accelerates the digestion of food by stimulating the production of gastric juice;
- improves appetite;
- improves blood composition;
- removes salts from the body;
- relieves pain with gastritis and ulcer, and also promotes tissue scarring;
- due to the increased iron content it helps to alleviate the condition with heavy menstruation;
- with regular use, protects brain neurons from destruction, preventing memory problems;
- promotes the regeneration of skin cells due to the increased content of vitamin A;
- improves metabolism and blood circulation.
Thus, we can say that salad is a universal product that benefits absolutely everyone. It is also recommended to be used by weather-sensitive people during a period of changing weather or magnetic storms.
Possible harm and contraindications
At first glance, lettuce leaves seem completely harmless. The calorie content and composition of this culture contribute to the overall strengthening of the body. However, in some cases, excessive use of this product is strictly contraindicated. These conditions include:
- gout;
- bladder stones;
- colitis in acute and chronic form;
- asthma and tuberculosis;
- kidney disease (oxalic acid can trigger an exacerbation).
Slimming Salad Leaves
As already mentioned, the calorie content of lettuce leaves per 100 g. - only 16 kcal, but because it is just the perfect dietary product. If you want to lose weight, then it simply needs to be included in the diet, because at a low energy value it contains a huge amount of nutrients. However, this product should not be the only one on your menu. If you do not consume enough protein and fat, then you risk harming your health. It is rather an auxiliary product, which will be an excellent addition to fish, white meat and vegetables.
It is worth following a number of recommendations for cooking dishes with lettuce:
- Be sure to season the salad with vegetable oil or yogurt;
- so that the leaves do not bite, soak them in water for several minutes;
- grind greens better with your hands, and not with a knife, so as not to subject the product to oxidation;
- Do not season the salad beforehand so that the leaves do not fade or lose their taste.
Interesting Salad Facts
One of the most useful and affordable products in the spring is lettuce. Calorie content per 100 grams is not more than 16 kcal, regardless of the variety. By the concentration of vitamins and minerals, this product can compete with many vegetables. However, this is not all the information that is useful to know about the salad. So, the following interesting facts are associated with this product:
- Translated from Italian, the word "salad" means "salty", although the taste of the product is fresh or slightly bitter;
- the darker the leaves of lettuce, the more nutrients they contain;
- this culture is very whimsical in terms of storage: greens can not be dried, canned, frozen or kept in the refrigerator for a long time;
- initially the salad was a weed, until the ancient Greeks appreciated its taste and health benefits (this happened about 5,000 years ago);
- at the moment, lettuce is often found both in beds and in shops, but in the time of the Persian sheikhs it was worth its weight in gold;
- the modern history of lettuce leaves began when Christopher Columbus brought their seeds to America;
- in terms of the content of vitamins and minerals, the lower part of the leaves is of the greatest value.
Salad in cosmetology
Salad leaves are useful not only for the internal systems of the body. This product helps maintain external beauty and solve a number of cosmetic problems. So, if you have dry skin, then apply a mask of sour cream with chopped green leaves twice a week.
If your skin needs intensive nutrition, it is recommended to use a product consisting of gruel salad, vegetable oil and lemon juice. Such a mask will help you deal with freckles and pigmentation. If the epidermis is too dry, you can add egg yolk.
In the cold season, the skin is prone to irritation and peeling. To eliminate these unpleasant symptoms, it is enough several times a day to wipe the face with a decoction of lettuce leaves. This tool also helps with burns and insect bites.
In summer, skin needs protection as never before. If you are afraid that your face or shoulders will burn, it is not at all necessary to apply a special cream. Before going out for a few minutes, attach a sheet of lettuce to the skin, having previously beaten it with a rolling pin or wrinkled it in your hands.