Salads get a bad rap sometimes because iceberg lettuce is known for being low in nutrients. However, romaine lettuce is jam-packed full of healthy nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and a high level of antioxidants. Adding some romaine lettuce to your salad or sandwich is a great way to add some crunch and a strong nutritional punch. One serving offers almost a full daily supply of vitamins A and K while also serving up a healthy dose of folate, fiber, and manganese. Plus, its low calorie so you can eat as much as you like with no weight gain.
Easy Weight Loss
Perhaps the best part about romaine lettuce is the fact that it is the best choice for a weight loss diet. In order to lose weight, you need to take in fewer calories than your body needs per day, but you have to be careful to get your daily allowances of vitamins and minerals. Romaine lettuce is an awesome food source to base your diet around because you can eat large portions at just 17 calories per cup, and still receive all of the vitamins and minerals that are packed into it.
High Concentration of Antioxidants
Romaine lettuce has a high concentration of Vitamin A and Vitamin C which are both known antioxidants. Both of these vitamins are vital for maintaining and balancing your body systems. They can do this by correcting the damage that free radicals in your body cause. Free radicals affect the body in many different ways, but if the damage is not addressed, it can lead to a variety of health conditions. Romaine lettuce counteracts their damage to build up your body’s system, primarily the immune system.
Helps Prevent Bone Loss
It is a well-known fact that leafy greens have the highest source of Vitamin K out of all the vegetables. Vitamin K is known for its ability to help build bone density and even prevent the development of osteoporosis. In fact, some studies have proven that Vitamin K can help reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis more than calcium can. It also helps promote bone calcification and helps the blood clot better making it a leafy lettuce you will want to start sneaking into your diet.
Helps Heal Skin
The high amount of Vitamin A in romaine lettuce plays a large role in keeping your skin healthy. In fact, people with a poor complexion are often found to be deficient in Vitamin A. At the same time, Vitamin C also helps the skin build collagen which keeps skin healthy. When combined, these vitamins can help your skin to heal and appear fresher. Therefore, instead of spending dozens of dollars on skin correcting products, try incorporating romaine lettuce into your diet on a regular basis to help give your skin the boost it needs.
Can Help Reduce Aging
At the same time that romaine lettuce helps build skin, it also helps keep it fresh and new. As mentioned, Vitamin C is responsible for building collagen, which plays a large role in preventing the signs of aging from showing up. Collagen helps keep skin firm and prevents loss of elasticity which will ward off wrinkles and more skin issues. It only stands to reason that the more romaine lettuce you eat, the more collagen boosting nutrients will get into your body. This is perhaps the easiest way to stop cell damage and stay young.
Boosts Heart Health
The Vitamin C and Vitamin A found in romaine lettuce does more than help your skin and bones, it also can help protect your heart. A diet high in these two antioxidants can actually help prevent cholesterol from building up in your arteries. This reduces your risk of heart attack dramatically and prevents further heart complications. The folate that is in romaine lettuce also helps remove homocysteine from the body that often causes heart issues. Thus, if you need a heart-healthy diet romaine lettuce may be the right choice for you.
Strengthens Digestive Tract
Romaine lettuce has 2g of fiber per one cup serving, which makes it an excellent supplement to add to your diet to help clean up your digestive tract. Fiber works like a sponge to help push waste down along your intestinal tract and out. It can help clean up your digestive tract and clear old wastes which will, in turn, strengthen it. High fiber diets also have been linked to a lower risk of diabetes and heart disease.
Muscle Strength
Most people don’t think about lettuce as a muscle builder, but romaine lettuce can actually help ensure that your muscles stay strong. Potassium is vital for muscle strength, and one serving of romaine lettuce offers 447mg of potassium. Without this vital nutrient, you will likely feel weak. Plus, potassium is vital for keeping the heart working properly, so you get double the benefits out of one green leaf.
Lowers Risk of Cancer
Multiple studies have shown that dark leafy greens that contain chlorophyll may help reduce the risk of developing liver and colon cancers. Additional studies show that diets that do not include green leafy vegetables leave patients at a higher risk of developing cancer. This is likely because of the high concentration of vitamin A and vitamin C in romaine lettuce. Additionally, romaine lettuce has been linked to a lowered risk of lung, breast, bladder, skin, oral, and prostate cancer.
Improves Eye Health
Everyone has heard that carrots can help improve vision. It turns out that romaine lettuce can also do the trick. The vitamin A in romaine lettuce has been proven to improve eye health. Regular consumption of vitamin can also help prevent the development of eye disorders as you age, so make sure to eat your leafy greens on a regular basis. The beta-carotene in leafy greens, in particular, has been linked to preventing macular degeneration which is one of the largest causes of blindness in old age.