Fresh lettuce leaves: calorie and benefit to the body

One of the most popular dietary products are lettuce leaves. Caloric content is extremely low, and the benefits to the body are simply enormous.

A little bit about salad

Paradoxically, people rarely include salad leaves in their diet. Its caloric content is quite low, and therefore they can not eat. This product often serves as decoration of festive dishes, which are abundantly watered with mayonnaise. If we talk about supporters of diets and proper nutrition, they know the value of fresh lettuca well.

It should be noted that at the moment there are more than 1000 varieties of salads in the world. This is an annual (in some cases a biennial) plant that belongs to the family of astroids, or composite plants. There are so many kinds of lettuce that sometimes even experienced gardeners get confused in them.

In ancient times, this culture was cultivated exclusively for the sake of oil, which was extracted from seeds. Later, gentle leaves appeared on the table of ancient Greeks and Romans. They appreciated not only the taste, but also the healing qualities of this product.

Popular salad varieties

Caloric content of lettuce leaves (fresh) is very low, and vitamins and trace elements contain a great variety. In addition, the bright color and beautiful shape make this product an excellent decoration for any dish. At the moment the following salads are the most popular:

• Romain is the leader among salads. It is a large inflorescence of several green leaves, which is somewhat like a cabbage. Most often it is used in sandwiches or as an ornament.
• Cress salad is one of the most useful of its kind. It is distinguished by a slight mustard flavor, which can be explained by the increased content of trace elements. This is an excellent option for fighting spring avitaminosis.
• Coral got its name because of its characteristic appearance. A light nutty flavor will give an original touch to any dish. And by the amount of calcium and mineral salts this brand has overtaken all others.

Salad leaves: caloric content

Now closer to the topic of our article. If you follow a figure or strive to follow the principles of proper nutrition, then certainly include in your diet lettuce leaves. Caloric content in 100 gr is 16 kcal. Nutritional value is determined by the content of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. The first two elements are contained in an insignificant amount (1.5 g and 0.2 g, respectively). As for carbohydrates, which give the product a calorie content, they are present in a salad in the amount of 2 grams.

Chemical composition

A huge amount of nutrients contain in their composition lettuce leaves. Caloric 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 about microelements, 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 and useful properties

Considering the fact that fresh lettuce leaves are characterized by extremely low caloric content and high content of vitamins and nutrients, one can judge about their exceptional benefits to the human body. So, it has the following positive effect:

• Strengthens the protective functions of the body;
• Contributes to the normalization of the central nervous system;
• Helps restore strength after illness;
• Contributes to the normalization of sleep and has a mild hypnotic effect;
• Accelerates the processes of digestion of food by stimulating the production of gastric juice;
• Improves appetite;
• Improves blood composition;
• Removes salts from the body;
• Relieves pain in gastritis and ulcers, as well as contributes to tissue scarring;
• Due to the increased content of iron 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 circulation.

Thus, it can be said that salad is a universal product that benefits absolutely everyone. It is also recommended to use meteosensitive people in the period of weather change or magnetic storms.

Possible harm and contraindications

At first glance, the leaves of the lettuce seem absolutely harmless. Caloric content and composition of this culture contribute to the overall strengthening of the body. Nevertheless, in some cases, excessive use of this product is categorically contraindicated. Such states include:

• gout;
• Stones in the bladder;
• Colitis in acute and chronic form;
• Asthma and tuberculosis;
• Kidney disease (oxalic acid can provoke an exacerbation).

Leaves of lettuce for weight loss

As already mentioned, the caloric content of lettuce leaves per 100 gr. - only 16 kcal, but because it is just an ideal dietary product. If you want to lose weight, it simply needs to be included in the diet, because at low energy value it contains a huge amount of useful substances. However, this product should not be the only one in 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 necessary to follow a number of recommendations for cooking dishes with lettuce leaves:

• Necessarily fill the salad with vegetable oil or yoghurt;
• So that the leaves do not bitter, soak them in water for a few minutes;
• Grind greens better with your hands, and not with a knife, so as not to subject the product to oxidation;
• Do not refill the salad in advance so that the leaves do not wilt and lose their flavor.

Interesting facts about salad

One of the most useful and affordable products in the spring are lettuce leaves. Caloric 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. Nevertheless, this is not all information that is useful to know about a salad. So, with this product the following interesting facts are connected:

• In the translation from the Italian language the word "salad" means "salty", although the taste of the product is unleavened or slightly bitter;
• The darker the leaves of lettuce, the more useful substances they contain;
• This culture is very whimsical in terms of storage: the greens can not be dried, canned, frozen or kept in the refrigerator for a long time;
• Initially, the salad was a weed, while the ancient Greeks did not appreciate its taste and health benefits (it happened about 5,000 years ago);
• At present the salad is often found both in beds and in shops, but in the days of the Persian sheikhs it was valued in weight of gold;
• The modern history of lettuce leaves began from the time that Christopher Columbus brought their seeds to America;
• From the point of view of the content of vitamins and minerals, the lowest value is represented by the lower part of the leaves.

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 twice a week, apply a mask of sour cream with chopped green leaves.

If your skin needs intensive nutrition, then it is recommended to use a remedy consisting of salad gruel, vegetable oil and lemon juice. This mask will help you cope with freckles and pigmentation. If the epidermis is too dry, you can add an egg yolk.

In the cold season, the skin is prone to irritation and peeling. To eliminate these unpleasant symptoms, it is enough to wipe the face with a decoction of lettuce leaves several times a day. This remedy also works great for burns and insect bites.

In summer, the skin needs more protection than ever. If you are afraid that the face or shoulders will burn, it is not necessary to apply a special cream. Before going outside for a few minutes, attach a leaf of salad to your skin, having beaten it with a rolling pin or a crumpled hand.