Lettuce contains more dietary fiber and vitamin C than Chinese cabbage, has the effect of eliminating excess fat, and therefore can help with weight loss when consumed regularly. Lettuce can improve gastrointestinal blood circulation, promote the digestion and absorption of fats and proteins; it can protect the liver, promote bile formation, prevent bile stasis, and prevent gallstones and cholecystitis. It also has blood detoxifying and diuretic effects, and can eliminate intestinal toxins and prevent constipation. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that lettuce has a slightly bitter taste and has effects such as relieving pain and inducing sleep, lowering cholesterol, and assisting in the treatment of neurasthenia.
Benefits of Lettuce
1. Benefit for Improving Sleep Quality Lettuce contains lactucarium, which is an effective hypnotic ingredient that can stabilize emotions, promote sleep, and assist in the treatment of neurasthenia.
In addition, every 100g of lettuce contains about 50mg of vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 is important for maintaining the nervous system and eliminating feelings of irritability and anxiety.
Furthermore, every 100g of lettuce contains 36mg of calcium. Calcium can strengthen nerve conduction functions, relieve nervous tension, and help with falling asleep quickly.
2. Function to Enhance Body Immunity Lettuce contains interferon inducers, which can stimulate the body's normal cells to produce interferon, resist viruses, and improve the body's immunity.
3. Significant Inhibitory Effect on Cancer Cells Butter lettuce contains a substance called protocatechuic acid, which has a significant inhibitory effect on cancer cells. It is particularly effective in preventing and treating digestive system cancers such as stomach, liver, and colorectal cancer.
4. Whitening Effect Lettuce is rich in vitamin C, so beauty-conscious individuals can eat it often!
5. Benefit for Protecting Vision The vitamin E, carotene, etc., in lettuce can protect the eyes, maintain normal vision, and relieve dryness and fatigue.
Suitable Groups for Eating Lettuce
Generally suitable for all people, especially for those who are overweight. However, lettuce is cool in nature, so people with frequent urination or a cold stomach should not eat too much of it.
Pregnant women, postpartum mothers, and breastfeeding mothers can all eat lettuce, but it should not be eaten raw. As a type of raw and cold food, lettuce often contains bacteria and pesticides. Eating it raw can easily cause diarrhea, which is not good for fetal health and can also affect the quality of breastfeeding. Therefore, it must be washed thoroughly and cooked before consumption.
Infants and young children can also eat lettuce. However, because the digestive systems of young babies are not yet fully developed, it is best to chop it up and cook it thoroughly to make it easier for them to eat and digest.
Here are two methods for preparing lettuce for you:
Lettuce and Apple Juice
Ingredients: 100g lettuce, 10g each of celery and cilantro, half a tomato, half an apple, half a lemon, and appropriate amounts of soybean powder, honey, and skim milk.
Instructions:
1. Soak the tomato in boiling water for a moment, then peel it, remove the stem, and cut it into pieces;
2. Wash the apple and lemon, and cut them into small pieces;
3. Wash the lettuce, celery, and cilantro and cut them into small sections;
4. Place the above ingredients into a juicer. Once the juice is extracted, add the soybean powder and continue blending for 10 seconds. Then, pour the mixed juice into a prepared glass cup. Add honey and skim milk to taste and stir well.
Benefits: Aids digestion, promotes weight loss, and enhances beauty.
Milk-Steamed Lettuce
Ingredients: 50g lettuce, 150g broccoli, 300ml milk, and appropriate amounts of fine salt, stock, and cornstarch water.
Instructions:
1. Wash the lettuce and cut into sections; wash the broccoli and cut into small pieces, then blanch until cooked;
2. Heat the milk, add the stock, cornstarch water, and fine salt, and simmer briefly to make a sauce;
3. Arrange the lettuce around the edge of a plate and the broccoli in the center. Pour the prepared sauce over the vegetables on the plate.
Benefits: Relieves pain and induces sleep, and assists in the treatment of neurasthenia.