Description
LETTUCE LIKE OTHER SALADS (CHICORY ENDIVE) IS VERY HIGH IN WATER CONTENT (95%). LETTUCE IS BENEFICIAL TO THE DIET BECAUSE IT HAS FIBRE MINERAL SALTS (ESPECIALLY POTASSIUM CALCIUM PHOSPHOROUS MAGNESIUM) AND VITAMINS (PRINCIPALLY C A FOLATES AND K); IT HAS VERY LOW CARBOHYDRATE AND FAT CONTENT. MORE SPECIFICALLY BEYOND REGULATING THE FUNCTION OF THE INTESTINES FIBRE HELPS IN REACHING A SENSE OF FULLNESS DURING MEALS AND SO LIMITING THE CONSUMPTION OF FOODS WITH HIGH ENERGY DENSITY; IT ALSO SEEMS TO HAVE A POSITIVE ROLE IN CONTROLLING THE LEVEL OF GLUCOSE AND CHOLESTEROL IN THE BLOOD. ADDITIONALLY LETTUCE CONTAINS NUMEROUS BIOACTIVE MOLECULES (CAROTENOIDS CHLOROPHYLLS POLYPHENOLS?) THAT HAVE A POSITIVE EFFECT ON IMPROVING HEALTH AND WELLBEING AND/OR REDUCING THE RISK OF DISEASE: THEY SLOW CELLULAR AGEING BY FIGHTING FREE RADICALS; STRENGTHEN THE IMMUNE SYSTEM; IMPROVE INTESTINAL FUNCTION; PROTECT FROM PATHOGENS IN THE CARDIO-CIRCULATORY SYSTEM. LETTUCE CONTAINS LUTEIN AND BETA-CRYPTOXANTHIN (CAROTENOIDS THAT STRENGTHEN THE IMMUNE SYSTEM PROTECT FROM SUN RAYS FREE RADICALS AND SOME TUMOURS) AND FLAVONOLS (POLYPHENOLS WITH FUNCTIONS AGAINST OXIDISING AGENTS METAL CHELANTS AND HAVE ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIVIRAL ACTIONS). |