Few people know that salad greens are classified as vegetables. Moreover, it is considered to be the most useful and rich in composition vegetable. Although the salad was appreciated in ancient times, in our time it is not a popular product. It is usually remembered during diets and in the spring, when there is an acute shortage of vitamins. However, the rich composition of this vegetable suggests that the benefits of lettuce leaves can be obtained at any time of the year.
Salad composition
The greatest value of lettuce leaves is in their vitamin-mineral composition. In this regard, lettuce is the leader among vegetables.
The salad contains such vitamins:
- a large amount of ascorbic acid;
- carotene ( vitamin A );
- almost all representatives of group B, including folate;
- vitamin E;
- little-known vitamin K1, improving blood clotting.
Mineral substances in the salad contain:
- Microelements : potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium - 28 mg.
- Microelements : iron, manganese, copper, selenium, zinc, lutein and zeaxanthin.
What are the benefits of lettuce leaves?
Based on the composition of the product, you can immediately understand that salad saturates the body with important nutrients, which, of course, positively affects the defenses of the body. In addition, the salad has such an influence:
- improves the functioning of the nervous system;
- helps to improve sleep;
- helps restore strength after a long illness;
- improves digestion and increases appetite.
The benefits of lettuce leaves are available to everyone and even to those who wish to reduce their weight. Caloric content of lettuce leaves is only 12-14 units. Therefore, you can add this vegetable almost every day.
Thinking about the benefits and harms of lettuce leaves, doctors tend to believe that the benefits of this vegetable are much greater than harm. Among the harmful properties of the salad is the ability to form stones. Therefore, this greens should be used with caution for those with an organism prone to the formation of stones in the kidneys and bladder.