There are two types of lettuce: stem lettuce and leaf lettuce. The former is cultivated everywhere, while the latter is more commonly grown in the south and is one of the important vegetables in spring, autumn, and winter. Diuretic, anti-cancer, and even breast-enhancing? You must eat this vegetable!
There are many benefits to eating lettuce regularly. It is rich in potassium ions, 27 times the content of sodium salt, which helps regulate the body's salt balance. For patients with hypertension, heart disease, etc., it has the effects of promoting urination, lowering blood pressure, and preventing arrhythmia. Lettuce also functions to increase appetite, stimulate digestive juice secretion, and promote gastrointestinal peristalsis.
Nutritional Value of Lettuce
1. Lettuce is high in potassium, which helps promote urination and reduce the pressure on the atria, making it extremely beneficial for patients with hypertension and heart disease.
2. It contains a small amount of iodine, which has a significant impact on a person's basal metabolism, mental and physical development, and even emotional regulation.
3. It contains very rich fluorine, which can participate in the growth of teeth and bones.
In addition, a certain substance in lettuce can stimulate the optic nerve. Ancient records state that eating too much lettuce can cause blurred vision, which can recover on its own after stopping consumption for a few days. Therefore, people with poor vision should not eat it in large quantities, and those with eye diseases, especially night blindness, should also eat it in moderation.
Oyster Sauce Lettuce with Chicken Leg Mushrooms
The Effects and Functions of Lettuce
Lettuce is sweet, cool, and bitter in nature, and enters the large intestine and stomach meridians; it has the effects of benefiting the five organs, unblocking the meridians, clearing stomach heat, and promoting diuresis and heat clearance; it is used for conditions such as difficult urination, hematuria, and insufficient lactation.
1. Promotes smooth circulation, eliminates stagnation, and lowers qi
The fresh and slightly bitter taste of lettuce can stimulate the secretion of digestive enzymes and increase appetite. Its milky sap can enhance the secretion of gastric juice, digestive glands, and bile, thereby promoting the function of various digestive organs. It is particularly beneficial for patients with weakened digestive function, reduced acidity in the digestive tract, and constipation.
2. Promotes urination and lactation
The potassium content in lettuce is much higher than its sodium content, which is beneficial for the body's water and electrolyte balance, promoting urination and milk secretion. It has certain therapeutic effects for patients with hypertension, edema, and heart disease.
3. Strengthens the body and prevents cancer
Lettuce contains a variety of vitamins and minerals and has the effect of regulating nervous system function. The organic compounds it contains are rich in absorbable iron, which is very beneficial for patients with iron-deficiency anemia. The hot water extract of lettuce has a high inhibitory rate against certain cancer cells, so it can also be used for cancer prevention and treatment.
4. Relaxes the bowels and promotes bowel movements
Lettuce contains a large amount of plant fiber, which can promote intestinal wall peristalsis, smooth the digestive tract, and help with bowel excretion. It can be used to treat various types of constipation.
How to Eat Lettuce
1. Lettuce is suitable for cooking methods such as braising, mixing, quick-frying, and stir-frying. It can also be used to make soups and as an ingredient.
2. Lettuce is sensitive to salt, so use less salt for better taste.
3. When blanching lettuce, pay attention to the time and temperature. Blanching for too long or at too high a temperature will make the lettuce soft and lose its crisp texture.
4. Lettuce is a traditional vegetable for breast enhancement. When used with beef rich in B vitamins, it has the effect of nourishing qi and blood, which can promote nutrient supply to the breast area.
5. Squeeze out the water from lettuce before cooking to increase its crispness. However, from a nutritional perspective, the water should not be squeezed out, as this will lead to a large loss of water-soluble vitamins.
stir-fried coprinus with lettuce in oyster sauce