Hey there, viewers! How often do you eat lettuce? I know, your lettuce intake is
not something people usually grill you over. But it's one of the most common veggies out
there. Whether you're putting it on burgers or eating it in salads, people just love
eating lettuce. Some people even use it as a substitute for bread. But is it actually
good for you? Let's talk about what happens to your body when you eat lettuce every day.
Does it help you load up on vitamins? Can it help you lose weight? Can it keep you hydrated? Wait,
is it really not as healthy as you think? We're talking all that AND more...
1. You Load Up On Nutrients Now let me first get this out of the way,
I know lettuce can sound boring. Some people have a pretty strong hatred toward veggies in general.
Besides, how can you make lettuce interesting?
It's one of the blandest, most boring foods out there.
Well you need to ask yourself this question... Are you looking to get healthy? Then listen up!
If there's one thing lettuce really has going for it,
it's all the nutrients it carries. I'm talking about both vitamins and minerals. A head of
iceberg lettuce has a decent amount of Vitamin A, C and K. These provide very special benefits.
Vitamin A is used to maintain several different functions in your body. It can strengthen your
immune system, as well as improve on your ability to reproduce. Vitamin A also helps
to improve you vision. It does this by using its protein to absorb light into your retinal
receptors. A single cup of shredded lettuce holds about 2% of your suggested intake for the day.
Vitamin C allows your body to function better, restoring your tissues, maintaining your teeth
and bones, and strengthening your immune system. In other words, you need Vitamin C to grow.
Vitamin K on the other hand will allow your wounds to heal quicker. You also need it
for blood clotting. If you want healthier, stronger bones, Vitamin K is a must have.
But we'll touch on that later in greater detail.
On the mineral front, lettuce will give you a satisfying amount of calcium, potassium and
folate. These have all kinds of benefits, ranging from lowering your blood pressure to strengthening
your teeth and bones. Folate even has the ability to produce DNA and genetic material.
This is especially important for pregnant women.
I'd say this is already a pretty convincing argument for why you should eat lettuce every day.
What's your favorite food to eat lettuce on? Are you a sandwich person? What's your salad
of choice? Sound off in the comment section, and start a conversation with your Bestie community...
2. It Might Help You Lose Weight Everyone's trying to shed pounds lately.
Everywhere I go, it's a new diet, or a new food nobody's ever heard of.
Well sometimes you just need to rely on the simple things.
Now I'm saying this with caution...
Lettuce is a smart dieting choice, but this is mostly because of its low calories.
It's one of the best things it has going for it. Lettuce doesn't have a ton of protein or fiber,
both of which you need for your digestion. The few carbs lettuce has are fairly empty.
In other words, you shouldn't go eating lettuce by itself.
It may work for rabbits, but with humans, it won't do anything except leave you
hungrier. This will just have you feeling sluggish and unmotivated. Try getting in shape that way.
But as I said, if you're looking for a healthy sandwich topping, lettuce is the way to go.
Remember that cup of shredded lettuce I mentioned a second ago? It's just under 10 calories. If
you're cooking a burger for yourself, some shredded lettuce will go great with it.
Eating leafy greens with romaine lettuce is a perfect way to increase the volume of your meals,
without shooting up in calories. A small caesar salad with romaine
lettuce is around 180 give or take. It's an ideal side for your dinner. Mind you,
you are adding a bunch of salad dressing, which will increase your calories either
way. So if you have to have dressing on your salad, try keeping it light.
If you'd like your salad to pack a protein punch, grill up some chicken and mix it in with your
salad. It's pretty tasty. But there's something else lettuce does that's actually pretty special.
You already know about putting lettuce on your burger. In fact,
you probably do put lettuce on your burger. I mean it's a pretty standard move for BBQ enthusiasts.
But what about using lettuce AS THE BUN? I mean the concept alone is enough to make a meat lover's
head explode. But it's all the rage in the fitness community, and fairly creative if I say so myself.
If you're avoiding carbs, but still can't help giving in to the tenderness of a hamburger,
lettuce is a fantastic substitute. I'm talking about 2 leaves of iceberg
lettuce on both ends of the patty. It's a simple change that can be
done in your kitchen. Several fast food restaurants will do this for you as well.
What's super cool about this method is it actually provides more crunch than a regular burger.
On the weight loss front, you're eating almost no carbs. Just make sure you're avoiding the side of
fries. Still not convinced that lettuce is the way to go? Well maybe this will change your mind...
But before we continue, are you trying to get in shape? You first need to get your diet in check.
Have a look at our recent video on 13 Foods That Damage Your Gut.
Now back to our discussion on what lettuce does to your body.
3. Lettuce Will Keep You Hydrated
I bet this is something you didn't think of. Summer's right around the corner, folks!
The temperatures are going to be rising. I don't think people realize just how essential water is.
I mean, you know it keeps you alive. But you need to be drinking it several times a day!
Experts recommend that men drink just under 4 litres of water per day,
and women have under 3. Staying hydrated not only keeps your body functioning,
but your mind as well. So by now, you're probably asking yourself, "Where does lettuce come in?"
Well, lettuce is one of the most water rich foods on the planet. It's water content is
listed as 96%. Including lettuce as a regular part of your diet will keep your water levels balanced.
Now I'm not saying you need to carry a head of lettuce with you like your own personal
water bottle. Wouldn't that be a sight? Small amounts of lettuce are quite enough.
One cup of lettuce holds more than a quarter cup of water. This is all the more reason to
eat salad with your meals. Either that, or put some onto your sandwich. Other foods that hydrate
you include cucumber, tomatoes, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, apples and oranges. This makes me want
to jump in the car and head over to the grocery store. But not before we get to our next point...
4. It Strengthens Your Bones This one needs to be talked about
in greater detail. A heavy diet of lettuce can increase the strength of your bones.
Remember when I said that lettuce is a strong source of vitamin K?
Well this is what increases your bone strength.
You might be thinking, "Well I'm too young to worry about weak bones..." You're never too young.
Do you know what osteoporosis is? Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone
disease. For someone who suffers from it, their bones are incredibly fragile.
While it's more common in people over the age of 50, it's seen in people of all ages.
Studies have shown that over 200 million people around the world are suffering from osteoporosis.
1 in 5 men, and 1 in 3 women will experience a fracture related to
osteoporosis at some point in their life.
Consuming vitamin K in large quantities will reduce your risk of bone fractures.
But how much should I eat in a single day? Well the average man is recommended
120 mcg (micrograms) of Vitamin K daily, while the average woman is suggested around 90.
One cup of shredded romaine lettuce holds around 61 mcg of vitamin K.
As for a cup of green leaf lettuce, there are over 100 mcg.
I would say that's quite a bone-friendly meal. All the more reason to snack on lettuce every day.
The veggies you eat are so important. Of course lettuce is cool, but it's just the beginning.
Have I sparked your interest? Let's keep the conversation going with a
couple more veggie-related videos, shall we?
Check out What Eating Broccoli Every Day Does To Your Gut.
Or how about 12 Super Veggies You Should Eat That Pack Some Serious Power...
Go ahead, click one. Or better yet, watch both, and learn more about how to improve your diet.
Do you eat lettuce on the regular? Let us know in the comments below!