What is in the salad. Description and useful properties of the leaf lettuce plant. How to cook leaf lettuce
The beneficial properties of green leaf lettuce are quite extensive and favorably affect the work of all systems and organs.
The most important of them:
- It fights against the formation of cholesterol plaques, helps to strengthen and elasticity of the walls of blood vessels, helps to maintain them in a healthy state. It is not in vain that this green is recommended to be consumed constantly for the prevention of strokes, as well as for people suffering from anemia and vascular diseases.
- Improves blood composition and contributes to its normal coagulation.
- The salad has a high content of various vitamins and antioxidants that support the immune system, increase the vitality of the body, and fight against. Doctors advise using it as a prevention of colds and viral diseases. A decoction of this plant is often recommended as a good expectorant.
- In terms of carotene content, leaf lettuce is comparable to carrots, so eating it has a beneficial effect on vision.
- Due to the content of potassium, leafy green salad helps to normalize blood pressure.
- Leaf lettuce is rich in iodine and phosphorus, which has a beneficial effect on brain activity.
- The green "doctor" has a calming effect on the nervous system, improves sleep, quickly copes with depressive states, emotional excitability, and chronic fatigue. Salad is recommended for children, especially of school age - its periodic use improves concentration and concentration in studies.
- Green salad regulates water-salt metabolism in the body, acts as a diuretic.
- Use "curly" vegetable culture in diseases of the liver and kidneys.
- Including the plant in the daily menu, you can significantly reduce the risk of developing cancerous tumors.
- It has a beneficial effect on the reproductive system of men and women.
- Lettuce promotes the production of gastric juice, improves digestion and metabolism. Doctors often advise including it in the diet for people suffering from constipation, gastritis and. The beneficial properties of green salad are so effective that its use promotes the healing of ulcers and wounds in the stomach and intestines.
- It is recommended in the postoperative period, to restore the body's strength.
The most useful leaf lettuce is considered to be darker and brighter in appearance - it contains the maximum content of vitamins and minerals.
What is useful leaf lettuce for women?
What is useful leaf lettuce for the body of the fairer sex? This healing "healer" is undoubtedly important and necessary for the health of any woman, primarily as a source of folic acid. It is able to regulate the hormonal background, relieves cramps during menstruation, reduces the likelihood of developing breast and ovarian cancer, and makes life easier for a woman during menopause.
Girls will certainly be interested to know how leaf lettuce is useful for the beauty of skin, nails and hair. Cosmetologists and dermatologists unanimously argue that green salad occupies a leading position in the list of products for preserving youth and beauty. The content in the salad of a large amount of sulfur, silicon and phosphorus, as well as other microelements, effectively affects the appearance, giving shine to the curls and a healthy color to the skin, 
elasticity and radiance.
Based on this medicinal plant, various masks are made that restore and nourish the epidermis.
What is useful green leaf salad for pregnant women?
The value of green salad is expressed, first of all, in the content of folic acid, which is so necessary for the body of a pregnant woman. This substance significantly reduces the risk of miscarriage, reduces the risk of intrauterine anomalies in the fetus. And the content of calcium and protein in green salad provides the baby with proper development.
Today we will talk about the benefits and harms of green salad, of course, as we already said in the last article, there are a lot and even more of its varieties. It is even difficult for the uninitiated to navigate in all this variety of lettuce.
But one thing can be said with certainty that each member of this large "family" is generously filled with elements necessary for health and, as a result, is extremely useful.
Composition of green salad
Green salad has a very rich vitamin and mineral composition. Eating lettuce will help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, improve hair condition and strengthen blood vessels, thanks to the vitamin E content in its leaves, which is known as an antioxidant..
The presence in it calcium will have a beneficial effect on the condition of teeth and bones. A large amount of carotene in green lettuce leaves is good for vision and skin condition.
Well, more specifically, the composition of green salad is as follows:
- vitamins: A, B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (PP nicotinomide, niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6, B9 (folic acid), C, K and E
- Minerals: potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, manganese, iron, iodine, copper, selenium, zinc molybdenum, boron, lutein and zeaxanthin.
But we must understand that such a complete "baggage" of useful substances is contained only in a fresh plant. If the leaves of green salad are subjected to heat treatment, some of the nutrients, unfortunately, are lost.
Useful properties of green salad
Due to its rich composition, green salad – one of the healthiest vegetables. For example, in terms of calcium content, it is in first place among all existing vegetables, and in general, in terms of vitamin and mineral composition, it comes second, right behind spinach. Lettuce has a beneficial effect on many body functions, for example:
Medicinal properties of lettuce
- a large amount of vitamin K in the salad contributes to normal blood clotting;
- the presence of iron improves blood composition;
- the presence of potassium in lettuce leaves helps to normalize blood pressure;
- magnesium will help keep nails and hair healthy;
- iodine and phosphorus will support brain function;
- lettuce has a calming effect on the nervous system and normalizes sleep, due to the presence of lactucin glycoside in the juice of this plant;
- beneficial effect on the circulatory and immune systems due to the high content of folic acid;
- Infusion of lettuce seeds enhances lactation;
- Lutein and zeaxanthin in lettuce are valuable for vision;
- The low calorie content of lettuce, as well as its ability to improve digestion and metabolism, allows it to be actively used in the diet for diabetes, for the treatment of obesity and for those who simply want to lose weight.
Lettuce is also useful in atherosclerosis, hypertension, has a beneficial effect on the liver, kidneys, pancreas and regulates water metabolism in the body.
Along with culinary specialists and physicians, cosmetologists also appreciated the beneficial properties of this plant.
The use of green salad in cosmetology
In cosmetology, the healing properties of green salad are also actively used. For example, various masks based on green salad will help dry skin by nourishing, toning and refreshing it. A decoction of lettuce leaves will alleviate the condition of inflamed skin.
For example, such a decoction of healthy leaf lettuce can reduce peeling and relieve skin inflammation after sunburn. And wrinkled lettuce leaves can become a substitute for sunscreen if you hold them on your face for a few minutes.
When caring for your hair, regular masks with watercress juice will help get rid of dandruff and reduce hair loss.
How to preserve the beneficial properties of green salad when cooking
Knowing how many nutrients a green salad contains, it would be a shame to lose some of them during cooking. In order to still preserve the maximum of the beneficial properties of the salad during cooking, you should follow a few simple principles:- Store green salad in the refrigerator, washed and dried from moisture. You can put it in a cellophane bag. But at the same time, it must be taken into account that if moisture remains on the leaves, then the salad will begin to rot quickly. This vegetable will last longer if placed in an open container and covered with a damp towel. You can not put the salad in the freezer, as it does not tolerate sub-zero temperatures.
- To make lettuce leaves crunch better, they can be poured with cold water for a while. If you add a little salt or vinegar to the water, then at the same time you can reduce the presence of harmful substances in lettuce leaves. Only they need to be soaked for a very short time, otherwise, along with the harmful ones, some of the useful substances will also go away.
- It is believed that in order to maximize the preservation of the valuable composition of green salad, it is better to tear the leaves for fresh consumption with your hands, and use small leaves whole. But there is another opinion that this is just a myth, and there is no difference - to cut the leaves with a knife or tear with your hands - this does not affect the vitamin composition in any way. And indeed, we cut other vegetables and greens with a knife, and there is no doubt about it ... The only difference is that lettuce leaves, torn by hand, add more volume and friability to the dish to which it is added. Both theories have a right to exist, and the choice is yours, which method of cutting green salad to use.
- Refuel a dish that contains fresh lettuce leaves right before serving. If you do this in advance, the salad will quickly wither, lose its appearance and taste.
- And the last tip: do not use many types of green salad in one dish at once. If you still really want everything at once, it’s better to limit yourself to a maximum of three types at the same time.
Harm lettuce
If lettuce is present in the diet in moderation, then it is absolutely harmless and the benefits of green leafy lettuce for you will be obvious, but no harm from green lettuce. If you use this vegetable more actively, then it should be borne in mind that lettuce, like all foods rich in fiber, can cause such unpleasant body reactions as flatulence (excessive gas formation) and intestinal upset.
Caution should be taken to this product for people suffering from gastrointestinal diseases: stomach and duodenal ulcers, gastritis, intestinal diseases. The use of lettuce during periods of exacerbation of these diseases is especially not recommended.
Green lettuce is bad in violation of the acid-base balance in the body (phosphaturia) and in urolithiasis (oxalaturia), as it has a high content of alkaline substances.
people those suffering from asthma and tuberculosis should also be careful about eating lettuce. Increased gas formation, which can occur with the active use of this vegetable for food, can seriously aggravate the symptoms of these diseases.
Green salad harm or benefit?
But any negative, and especially harmful consequences of eating salad are rather an exception to the rule, and they can really be caused only by the consequences of your previous unhealthy life and unhealthy diet.
And since a green salad is extremely useful, it can simply cause a too rapid process of cleansing your body of toxins and toxins, which naturally, like any operation, can cause you some temporary deterioration in well-being.
But on the other hand, if you do not start to heal your body today, then it is not known what diseases you can get sick by abusing unhealthy food. Therefore, I personally recommend including as many different greens and salads as possible in your diet, because it is really tasty and inexpensive, and most importantly, it will help to avoid those health problems that 95% of the less conscious population of our country experiences.
In any matter, one should still try to avoid extremes (for example, switching to a purely salad diet in order to lose weight and enrich the body with vitamins). I repeat once again that with a moderate addition of healthy green salad to the diet, it will bring only benefit and pleasure.The presence of any kind of salad in food will strengthen your body, and fresh leaves of this plant will serve as a bright decoration for any dish. Well, this is where we end the story about the beneficial and harmful qualities of green salad, we wish you health, and if you want to get further acquainted with the beneficial properties of greens and vegetables, I recommend that you read it, which can also be added to salads, in general or
An annual plant, during the summer it manages to sprout, grow and produce seeds. Lettuce is mainly consumed fresh with vinegar and oil, or in combination with other types of vegetables. Adding salad to meat, fish and potato dishes not only improves their taste, but also significantly increases their digestibility. Lettuce contains many different vitamins, minerals and organic substances.
Lettuce is a precocious crop and is often the first to appear on the table. According to the terms of consumer ripeness, salads are divided into spring, summer and autumn. Gardeners breed mainly four types of lettuce: leaf, head, romaine and asparagus.
The history of its culture goes back into the distant past. It was known already in antiquity to the Greeks, Romans and Egyptians. In European countries, lettuce appeared in culture in the middle of the 16th century.
The homeland of the plant is unknown, but at present it is widely cultivated in vegetable gardens. Until now, the origin of the cultural forms of lettuce has not been precisely established, nor has its diversity been established.
The emergence of a huge number of varieties of lettuce is the result of crossing between its main varieties that originate from different countries.
Useful properties of lettuce
Lettuce, rich in folic acid, which regulates metabolism, is involved in the work of the nervous and hematopoietic systems. In terms of total salt content, lettuce is second only to spinach. It is also rich in trace elements: it contains copper, zinc, cobalt, manganese, molybdenum, titanium, boron, iodine.
Lettuce contains more than 38% potassium, 15% calcium, more than 5% iron and about 5% magnesium, more than 9% phosphorus and a lot of sulfur, which is part of hemoglobin and plays the role of an oxidizing agent. Many nervous diseases occur as a result of sulfur and phosphorus entering the body in an inorganic form (for example, when eating meat and cereals). In combination with silicon (it contains more than 8% in lettuce leaves), sulfur and phosphorus are necessary for the normal condition of the skin, tendons and hair growth.
Lettuce cell juice contains nitrate, sulfate and hydrochloric acid salts of potassium, which have a beneficial effect on the activity of the kidneys, liver, pancreas and circulatory system.
The iron contained in lettuce leaves is the most active element in the body, so it is important that it is renewed more often than any other element. The liver and spleen are places of iron accumulation; it is used by the body in case of sudden need (for example, for the rapid formation of red blood cells with a large loss of blood), as well as if food does not contain the required amount of this element in an organic form.
As a product for baby and diet food, lettuce is useful for diabetes, a sedentary lifestyle, it improves digestion, has a calming effect on the nervous system, and has a slight hypnotic effect. Recommended for the elderly, for those who have suffered a severe debilitating illness.
An aqueous infusion of crushed seeds increases the amount of milk in nursing mothers. Lettuce juice preparations are an effective homeopathic remedy for heart disease. In folk medicine, an infusion of fresh crushed leaves is prescribed for increased emotional excitability, insomnia, chronic gastritis, scurvy, hypertension, and liver diseases.
Eating lettuce also has a beneficial effect on fat metabolism, lowers cholesterol levels in the blood, which prevents the development of atherosclerosis, hypertension, and obesity.
Watercress contains 15 essential vitamins and minerals, high amounts of iron, calcium, folic acid, and vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B17, C, D, E, and K. Watercress acts as a mild stimulant and is great stimulates appetite. It is a well-known source of phytochemicals and antioxidants. Watercress has diuretic, expectorant and digestive properties. In addition, watercress helps with colds, runny nose, bronchial diseases, stress, back and joint pain, arthritis, anemia, constipation and emphysema.
Watercress is one of the best sources of iodine, which is essential for normal thyroid function. Watercress leaves are used as a lotion to treat an enlarged prostate gland. The sulfur found in watercress plays an important role in protein absorption, blood purification and cell building, and is essential for healthy hair and skin. Watercress is famous for its anti-scorbutic properties. Watercress leaves or juice are also used for cosmetic purposes - to cleanse the skin, eliminate acne and pimples. Daily consumption of watercress in cancer patients significantly reduces the level of DNA damage and increases the resistance of cells to further damage to DNA by free radicals. In addition, watercress lowers blood triglyceride levels by an average of 10%.
Regular consumption of watercress increases blood levels of lutein and beta-carotene, which act as antioxidants by 100% and 33%, respectively. A high level of these pigments reduces the likelihood of developing eye diseases, such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.
Leaf lettuce cooks consider just a godsend. In addition to the fact that it perfectly decorates dishes, makes them very original and appetizing, its nutritional qualities are widely known. An important advantage of the leaves is the early growth period. While the rest of the vegetables are ripening, it is already on the table. Therefore, the benefits and harms of lettuce should be known to every housewife. Especially if you want to use a product that is useful for the body, not only immediately, but also save it for the winter.
Types of lettuce
Two large conditional groups of lettuces are known - head and leaf. If earlier the leaves were used mainly to decorate the dish, now it is the benefits of green salad for the body that have caused its growth in popularity. Varieties differ not only in size and color, but also have different tastes. Choosing the right plant is not difficult. The most common leaf varieties are:
Batavia
The earliest species with large leaves, wavy at the ends. It has a very delicate taste and good juiciness. It is used in recipes for vegetable dishes, for making sandwiches and vegetable snacks.
Important! The variety is not suitable for long-term storage.
Arugula
A mega-popular variety due to its taste parameters and positive effect on the body. Strengthening the immune system, helping the digestive tract and improving metabolism are invaluable qualities of lettuce leaves. A relative of the dandelion with a spicy aroma and an unusual nutty-mustard taste. It grows on single stems and makes an excellent combination with cherry tomatoes and olive oil.
Lollo Rossa
The second well-known name is coral salad. It is grown in two colors - with red leaves and green. The green species is called Lollo Bionda. The difference from other varieties is an intense nutty taste with a slight bitterness. It is combined with both hot and cold appetizers, with spicy and sweet sauces, meat dishes, baked vegetables. Designers grow a plant in the beds as a decoration.
lettuce
The oldest known salad. There are up to 100 varieties of leaves, which differ in color, shape, configuration. Quite bland taste, almost without hints of bitterness or acidity. Therefore, they are used in combination with bright fresh vegetables or as a lining for any salad.
Important! Lettuce leaves are very tender and can't handle hot food.
Watercress
Belongs to the cabbage family. The second name is less sonorous - bedbug. The stem is very thin, the leaves are small dissected. Differs in very fast growth, in 2 weeks after crops it is ready to the use. The taste of the leaves is slightly pungent, more reminiscent of mustard, so they are often used in seasonings.
Chard
Swiss chard, Roman cabbage - so called chard. It belongs to the subspecies of the common beet, however, not the root crop, but the leaves are taken for food. It goes well with other vegetables in salads, added to cold appetizers, borscht, beetroot or casseroles. Housewives use the leaves to prepare cabbage rolls, which are very tender.
Romaine
The second well-known name is Roman salad. The peculiarity of this species is that it does not belong to any of the species, it is considered intermediate. It has long dense leaves. They are juicy, slightly sweet and spicy. There are many hybrids of Romaine lettuce - Salanova, Dandy, Cosberg, Wendel.
field lettuce
From a weed to an amazing culinary product. Combines with any seasonings, but is also good on its own. Many varieties, suitable for combining with smoked fish, bacon, boiled vegetables and poultry.
Spinach
Spinach varieties are diverse, the leaves of each of them differ in shape. There are summer and winter types of spinach. The taste of the salad is sweetish, the leaves are very good fresh and boiled. In many cuisines of the world, it is used to make specialty pies, omelettes and casseroles.
The chemical composition of lettuce leaves
Lettuce leaves do not have a high concentration of substances, but the composition is rich and varied. Most contain fiber, monosaccharides, nitrogenous compounds. Leaf lettuce is dominated by B vitamins, tocopherol and carotene. Many minerals and trace elements - iron, manganese, titanium, aluminum, molybdenum, zinc. Naturally, their set and quantity depends on the composition of the soil on which the plant grows.
The chemical composition changes under the influence of environmental conditions. Leaf species contain more carotene and dry matter than head species. In addition to its culinary value, leaf lettuce has many health benefits.
Calorie and nutritional value of lettuce
The leaves of the plant are very popular due to the low calorie content of the product. For 100 grams of leaf lettuce, the calorie content is from 14 kcal or 58 kJ, depending on the variety. With such a low indicator, the culture has a large amount of protein - 1.48 g, and only 0.29 g of fat.
What is useful leaf lettuce for the body
The benefits of lettuce leaves for the human body are really huge. When compared with other products, one should immediately note the low calorie content and low glycemic index. This explains the recommendations of nutritionists on the use of salads for overweight people, as well as for diabetics.
The combination with protein products makes the leaves very useful for athletes during high physical exertion. And with mental stress, the plant will supply the brain with nutrients, enrich it with oxygen, and help avoid excessive consumption of sweets. In addition, useful substances will increase overall performance and improve mood.
This is not to say that lettuce leaves of all varieties have the same beneficial properties. But a beneficial effect on the immune system is inherent in any representative of the culture.
For women
The main benefit of leaf lettuce for women is due to the presence of folic acid (vitamin B9) in it. The female body needs it for:
- improve memory, support the nervous system in stressful situations;
- increase immunity, reduce inflammation;
- strengthening the growth of hair follicles;
- slowing down the process of wrinkle formation, improving the condition of the skin;
- normalization of blood circulation, prevention of thrombosis, anemia;
- reducing the risk of oncological formations;
- regulation of hormonal balance;
- improvement of digestion processes;
- positive effect on metabolic processes, weight loss;
- normalization of sleep, increase concentration.
This is not an exhaustive list of the positive effects of leaf lettuce in women.
Important! The beneficial substance does not accumulate in the female body, therefore, it requires regular replenishment.
Hence the conclusion that lettuce leaves are recommended to be included in your diet all year round.
For men
The chemical composition of lettuce leaves is quite complex, it contributes to the production of testosterone. If the male body has enough of this hormone, then all organs of the genital area work without problems. Since ancient times, some species have been considered aphrodisiacs, such as arugula.
The presence of B vitamins prevents insomnia, irritability, relieves fatigue. The use of lettuce leaves on the body of athletes is very beneficial:
- muscles gain tone;
- painful symptoms quickly disappear after increased stress;
- increases the overall endurance of the body.
Lettuce leaves also supply the male body with substances that promote hair growth and stop the process of baldness.
For pregnant and lactating mothers
Garden salad has a huge benefit for expectant and nursing mothers. With regular use of the plant, the necessary amount of useful elements enters the body for the harmonious intrauterine development of the child. An aqueous infusion of lettuce seeds helps to increase the amount of milk and improve its quality during breastfeeding. During pregnancy, folic acid protects the expectant mother from miscarriage and placental abruption, promotes the absorption of essential nutrients, and improves the functioning of body systems.
For the elderly
The daily menu of the elderly must necessarily contain lettuce. The substances in their composition protect brain cells from the pathogenic effects of chemical elements that cause oncological problems. Due to the stimulating effect on neurons, the product is a good prevention of Alzheimer's disease. Older people are often diagnosed with diabetes. In this disease, foods with a low GI are shown. Has a mild laxative effect. Leaf lettuce is on the list of the most recommended greens for diabetics.
Is it possible to give leaf lettuce to children
The presence in the plant of substances that have a calming effect on the child's body has been proven. Therefore, it is useful for an active child of any gender to include it in the evening meal. At the same time, lettuce strengthens the immune system. It is allowed to use raw salad in the children's menu from 1.5 years of age. And boiled leaves can be given to babies from the moment of vegetable complementary foods. In addition, children love beautiful dishes, a salad in this matter is a great helper to mothers.
Important! For babies, choose only leaves with a green color, avoid white ones.
Do not give the product for neuro-arthritic diathesis in children.
Leaf lettuce for weight loss
Often lettuce leaves are used for weight loss, it brings invaluable benefits to the body. It lies in the fact that:
- the dish gets a good volume without a simultaneous increase in calories;
- the product is available at any time of the year, it is easy to grow at home;
- salad contains an optimal set of micro- and macroelements, amino acids that replenish body losses during weight loss;
- leaves consist of coarse dietary fiber - fiber;
- a large amount of vitamin C helps to quickly break down cholesterol cells;
- there is a powerful detoxification of the body and stabilization of the digestion process.
It can be concluded that a salad diet facilitates the work of body systems, supports it during the cleaning period.
Important! You can not use a mono-diet of lettuce leaves, because the plant does not contain a sufficient amount of all the necessary elements.
How to use lettuce leaves for medicinal purposes
The medicinal properties of leaf lettuce are very diverse. The plant is used in recipes of folk and traditional medicine. Main useful qualities:
- improves the quality and composition of blood;
- protects the body from the manifestation of anemia;
- strengthens the immune system;
- lowers blood sugar levels;
- removes salts;
- strengthens blood vessels and nerve fibers;
- restores muscle tissue;
- helps to get out of depression;
- supplies the skeletal system with calcium.
Leaf lettuce is used not only for preventive purposes, but also as part of the treatment of various diseases.
With gastritis
An important advantage of leaf lettuce over other products is that it is quickly digested and does not weigh down the stomach. With diagnosed gastritis with low acidity, it is used to enhance the secretion of gastric juice. But with increased acidity, the product is contraindicated.
With pancreatitis
There are medical indications for the use of lettuce leaves for violations of the pancreas. Greens are included in the diet twice a week.
Important! In case of pancreatitis, it is necessary to lower the leaves for 3-5 minutes in hot milk before use.
Not all varieties of leaf lettuce are allowed for patients with pancreatitis. During the period of illness, watercress and arugula will have to be excluded.
What can be cooked from leaf lettuce
The biggest mass of recipes are salads. You can cook them in any combination. Fresh vegetables, cheese, chicken, and are suitable. A great option for breakfast is an omelette with lettuce and cheese, green sandwiches.
Adding leaves well saturates the first dishes. Fragrant dietary soups are prepared from the salad, which are also allowed for baby food. The original dish will be a green soup-puree.
Daily intake of leaf lettuce
Lettuce leaves are allowed throughout the day. Best raw, but the product is also very useful boiled, stewed or fried. The daily dose for adults is 100 g of fresh leaves. Children under 12 reduce the dose to 50 g per day.
The use of leaf lettuce in home cosmetology
A green product is very useful for the skin, healthy hair, nails. The most popular types of funds are masks or infusions. They are prepared with the addition of various components, used for problems with the condition of the skin and hairline. The most important thing is that there are no contraindications for use, the products are suitable for any skin type.
Face masks
Lettuce leaves contain up to 90% moisture, so they are amazing moisturizers for the skin. In addition, they contain a whole list of useful substances that restore, cleanse, nourish the epidermis. The use of the plant helps to remove the peeling of the skin, prevent premature aging.
Recipe with a softening effect for the skin of hands and face:
- Chop lettuce leaves.
- For 1 st. l. mix add 1 tsp. corn oil and 2-3 drops of lemon juice.
- Take 2 tbsp. l. the resulting slurry, mix with 1 tbsp. l. sour cream.
- After applying to the skin, keep for 15 minutes, rinse with warm water.
Option that increases the elasticity of the epidermis:
- Mix 3 tbsp. l. salad gruel, 1 tbsp. l. olive oil, 1 tsp. lemon juice.
- Leave on skin for 20 minutes.
To remove peeling:
- Grind 8 leaves with 3 tbsp. l. sour cream or curdled milk.
- Apply a thin layer, hold for 15 minutes.
Dandruff Mask
Burdock oil is useful for hair, which strengthens them and helps get rid of dandruff:
- Grind the lettuce leaves, add 4-5 drops of burdock oil.
- Apply to the scalp, massaging lightly.
- Wash off after 20 minutes.
How to choose the right lettuce leaves
The main criterion is the freshness of the product. Sluggish, darkened or damaged leaves should not be taken. Wax gloss is also not needed. Choose greens of a rich natural color. It is important that there is no mucus on the stem. For a cook, the main goal is to acquire a quality plant, and not strive for its attractiveness.
Harvesting lettuce for the winter
Wash and dry the leaves first.
There are several ways to prepare a useful product:
- Freeze. It is best to cut the leaves into strips, then place in plastic bags and put in the freezer. It will not work in salads; you will have to cook omelettes, casseroles, mashed soups. Thawed lettuce does not have elasticity and an attractive appearance.
- Drying. Young leaves will do. After drying, store in a tightly closed container. Use as a vitamin supplement and for cosmetic infusions.
- Pickling. In this form, it is easy to store lettuce in the refrigerator. The marinade is prepared, the leaves are placed in a jar, sprinkled with chopped garlic, poured with marinade and covered with oppression. Shelf life is about a month. You can choose the marinade recipe according to your taste. If you need to roll up jars, the leaves are pre-fried with garlic and poured with fragrant vinegar.
Conclusion
When used in any form, the benefits and harms of lettuce leaves are necessarily taken into account. This is necessary to properly prepare juicy greens. Just a few leaves a day will significantly improve the general condition of the body and help to acquire an attractive appearance.
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Until recently, lettuce leaves and other types of such greens did not often appear on the tables of our compatriots. And, the thing is that many simply did not consider the salad an independent dish, it was most often used to decorate dishes, real salads seasoned with high-calorie mayonnaise, and if lettuce or watercress appeared on the menu, it only meant that you decided go on a diet or become a staunch vegetarian (learn about the benefits and dangers of vegetarianism). However, if you take a closer look at the composition of these green leaves, find out their calorie content and, of course, take an interest in the benefits, then you can learn a lot of interesting facts that, be sure, will make you start growing lettuce in your garden.
The World Without Harm is ready to tell you about all the "salad" secrets and about its benefits and harms...
Lettuce Leaves - Interesting Facts
Plants called lettuce belong to the Asteraceae or Compositae family, and today they are a completely independent and sought-after garden crop. Here are just data on where lettuce leaves were first grown - science, unfortunately, still does not have. But today, any of us can grow a salad in our summer cottage or ... on our windowsill (more on that later). The plant is very unpretentious and gives a large harvest in the form of juicy green or red leaves, with velvety or straight edges.
It is noteworthy that this plant has its own history. So, the data that lettuce can and is useful to eat scientists date back to the era of Ancient Rome. Then, the proud and warlike Romans almost daily ate lettuce leaves. At the same time, they called it salty grass, for a specific salty taste. At the same time, the recipe for ancient Roman salad is striking in its simplicity - the leaves of the plant were coarsely torn (not cut, pay attention to this) they were poured with olive oil, salted to taste and a delicious dish was ready. A little later, in the Middle Ages, lettuce began to be served as an independent side dish for meat dishes ...
types of lettuce
It will be interesting for us to know that there are more than 100 types of salads, while all of them are conditionally divided into 2 groups - head and leaf (lettuce belongs to the group of leaf lettuce).
So, for example, arugula- a kind of leaf lettuce, which has a pronounced spicy taste, and arugula has been grown for more than 2 thousand years, while the value of this salad lies in the fact that it contains a record amount of vitamin C and carotenoids. Another type of salad received a very unusual name - Iceberg- it is extremely popular and loved for its taste, and they call it that because for its storage during the delivery process, once upon a time, the leaves were sprinkled with ice cubes. Today, Iceberg leaves can be stored in another way, but if you hold them before serving in the freezer, they will crunch appetizingly on your teeth, and the greens themselves will be much juicier and fresher. By the way, iceberg lettuce contains a lot of water. Another crunchy salad Romaine, it contains a lot of sodium, but radicchio red- the one opposite contains a lot of iron and calcium, while the salad called Chinese cabbage(not to be confused with one of the types of cabbage) is a type of head lettuce ...
And, here, leaves are most often used to decorate dishes. oakleaf lettuce and bright leaves of small lettuce corn, curly frieze or lollo rosso(its leaves are painted greenish-red) ...
Composition of lettuce leaves
Lettuce leaves are extremely rich in minerals and vitamins, and their calorie content is very low, so they can be safely eaten as a dietary product. By the way, salad is most often eaten in "company" with other vegetables, or with meat, since green leaves themselves do not give a feeling of satiety. But, back to their composition.
In lettuce leaves, you can find vitamin A, folic acid, vitamin C, B vitamins, PP, carotene, vitamin E, many useful minerals, organic acids, calcium and potassium salts, magnesium, phosphorus, iron and sodium. Also, lettuce leaves contain a specific substance called lactucin, and pectins. At the same time, all salad greens, regardless of the type of salad, contain vitamin C and carotene, and in such large quantities that it allows us to say that the lettuce leaves themselves are much more useful in this regard than many vegetables and fruits that we used to consider rich sources of these substances.
So, for example,
lettuce (depending on its type) can contain from 10 to 50 milligrams of vitamin C per 100 grams of greens - this is approximately the same as in one lemon.
Benefits of lettuce leaves
It is noteworthy that our ancestors did not grow lettuce leaves for their own sake. It was then that they began to prepare salads from the greens themselves or add it to the main dishes of their diet. Initially, lettuce was valuable as a source of seeds, from which oil was subsequently extracted. But, over time, having tasted the taste of lettuce leaves, people began to eat them as well. It turned out that this is a very useful activity, since folic acid and pectin stimulate the intestines and help to remove bad cholesterol from the body. And, iron salts help cure iron deficiency. And, here is the specific substance lactucin has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the nervous system, reduces the rate of salt deposition and improves the quality of your sleep.
By the way, there is an opinion that
if you eat a few lettuce leaves for dinner, then you will sleep unusually soundly. And, here, lettuce leaves eaten for breakfast will stimulate digestion processes, improve blood circulation and normalize metabolic processes in your body ..
Benefits of lettuce juice
Traditional medicine uses fresh lettuce leaf juice diluted 1 to 1 with water to treat chronic gastritis and duodenal ulcers. And, if you rub such juice into the scalp, then your hair will be strong and healthy and you will prevent the processes of hair loss (find out why hair falls out).
The use of lettuce leaves in cosmetology
Based on the leaves of this green, you can prepare masks for dry skin care. Such masks will nourish your skin, tone it and refresh it. And, rubbing the skin of the face with a decoction of lettuce leaves will help you relieve inflammation and get rid of redness of the skin, its peeling.
Well, for those who are going to go to the beach, it will be useful to know that chopped lettuce leaves can be a good alternative to trendy sunscreens. This mixture should be applied to the parts of the body that you are going to expose to the sun, hold for a few minutes, and then rinse.
And, here masks with watercress will help you get rid of such an unpleasant problem as they will also reduce hair loss and make them strong and healthy.
lettuce leaves for weight loss
Due to the low calorie content of these greens, lettuce is often included in all sorts of diets that fight excess weight. And, if we consider the properties of this product, it becomes obvious that this is not accidental. Since, the beneficial composition of lettuce leaves replenishes our body's reserves with vitamins and minerals (when on a diet and limiting ourselves in everything, we usually do not get enough of these vitamins and minerals, therefore, most diets are considered to be not very useful - more about these) , our digestion and metabolism processes are normalized, and our body gets rid of excess fluids, which we often confuse with being overweight (read,). So, those who want to lose weight should definitely include lettuce leaves in their diet.
