Lactuca sativa (Lettuce) is an annual plant of the aster or sunflower family Asteraceae and has been cultivated some 2600 years ago and its widely appreciated in Europa and Asia.
Pesticides are used in lettuce crops, the most common pesticides found in the leaves are organ-phosphorous, Permethrin and than comes grosists and sellers with blue galice... Wash them thoroughly in warm, running water (of body temperature – 37 degree of Centigrade before consumption.
However, the organic forms are believed to be free from these toxins and safe for consumption, therefore is a good choice to have garden of your own. Lettuce contain the sedative which relaxes nerves. The darker green leaves are, more nutritious values they have.
For example, romaine or watercress have seven to eight times as much beta-carotene, and two to four times the calcium, and twice the amount of potassium as iceberg lettuce which unfortunately consist stryhnine and ammonia, it's nutritional value is water, roughache and toxins. Lettuce leaves are the store house of many phyto-nutrients that have health promoting and disease prevention properties.
- Vitamins in lettuce are plentiful, fresh leaves are an excellent source of several Vitamin A and beta carotenes. Just 100 g of fresh, raw-lettuce provides 247% of daily vitamin A, and 4443 µg of beta-carotene (Carotenes convert to vitamin A in the body; 2 µg of carotene is considered equivalent to 1 IU of vitamin A). These compounds have antioxidant properties. Vitamin A is required for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin, and is also essential for vision. Consumption of natural fruits and vegetables rich in flavonoids helps to protect the body from lung and oral cavity cancers.
- Vitamins in lettuce are plentiful, fresh leaves are an excellent source of several Vitamin A and beta carotenes. Just 100 g of fresh, raw-lettuce provides 247% of daily vitamin A, and 4443 µg of beta-carotene (Carotenes convert to vitamin A in the body; 2 µg of carotene is considered equivalent to 1 IU of vitamin A). These compounds have antioxidant properties. Vitamin A is required for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin, and is also essential for vision. Consumption of natural fruits and vegetables rich in flavonoids helps to protect the body from lung and oral cavity cancers.
- It is a rich source of vitamin K. Vitamin K has a potential role in the bone metabolism where it thought to increase bone mass by promoting osteotrophic activity in the bone cells. It also has established role in Alzheimer's disease patients by limiting neuronal damage in the brain.
- Fresh leaves contain good amounts folates and vitamin C. Folates require for DNA synthesis and therefore, vital in prevention of the neural tube defects in-utero fetus during pregnancy. Vitamin C is a powerful natural antioxidant; regular consumption of foods rich in vitamin C helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals.
- It contains good amounts of minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium, which are very essential for body metabolism.
Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure.
Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase.
Copper is required in the production of red blood cells. Iron is essential for red blood cell formation.
- Zea-xanthin (1730 µg per 100 g), an important dietary carotenoid in lettuce, is selectively absorbed into the retinal macula lutea, where it thought to provide antioxidant and filter UV rays falling on the retina. Diet rich in xanthin and carotenes is thought to offer some protection against age-related macular disease (ARMD) in the elder persons.
- It is rich in B-complex group of vitamins like thiamin, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), riboflavin.
Regular inclusion of lettuce is known as not a cause (to prevent) of osteoporosis, iron-deficiency anemia and believed to protect from cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer's disease and cancers.
- Zea-xanthin (1730 µg per 100 g), an important dietary carotenoid in lettuce, is selectively absorbed into the retinal macula lutea, where it thought to provide antioxidant and filter UV rays falling on the retina. Diet rich in xanthin and carotenes is thought to offer some protection against age-related macular disease (ARMD) in the elder persons.
- It is rich in B-complex group of vitamins like thiamin, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), riboflavin.
Regular inclusion of lettuce is known as not a cause (to prevent) of osteoporosis, iron-deficiency anemia and believed to protect from cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer's disease and cancers.
Good reason to eat it every single day, organic if possible.
What "doctors" in famos FDA obviously don't know (if they would know, they could ban the use of the lettuce just as they did with hemp).
Here are some facts: letuce is a norcotic, in wildeness it grows up to 180 cm (equal as in your garden) and the whole plant is rich in milky bitter substance that flows freely from wounds.
When dry it hardens turns into redish brown color and it is known as lactucarium (narcotic alcaloid) which is used as a substitute for opium and was smoked by North American Indians. It tastes and smell the same as opium, so we can call it: Poor man's opium.
The wild grown lettuces named Lactuca Virosa and Lettuce Sacriola have it (lactucarium) the most.
What "doctors" in famos FDA obviously don't know (if they would know, they could ban the use of the lettuce just as they did with hemp).
Here are some facts: letuce is a norcotic, in wildeness it grows up to 180 cm (equal as in your garden) and the whole plant is rich in milky bitter substance that flows freely from wounds.
When dry it hardens turns into redish brown color and it is known as lactucarium (narcotic alcaloid) which is used as a substitute for opium and was smoked by North American Indians. It tastes and smell the same as opium, so we can call it: Poor man's opium.
The wild grown lettuces named Lactuca Virosa and Lettuce Sacriola have it (lactucarium) the most.
References:
- Natural science of health
- Natural science of health
- Hotema, MH, Lessons 15, pages 29,20.
Planet Earth, 28.01.2013.
