Indispensable to a great salad, lettuce has always been an all-time favourite and a cool-season herbaceous plant in your nutrient-dense platter. The origin of this crunchy leafy green dates back thousands of years, probably during the times of the Egyptian era. Lettuce goes by the scientific name of Lactuca Sativa and belongs to the Asteraceae family. Primarily used as a base for sassy spring salads and veggie recipes, this herb is also a favourite topping for burgers and sandwiches. Replete with culinary and medicinal properties, lettuce offers bounteous benefits to your skin and hair besides health.
Lettuce

Also Read: Eat Cruciferous Vegetables for a Healthy Heart

Types Of Lettuce

Chiefly, lettuce can be divided into two types, one is the heading type and the other one is the looseleaf type. One has the shape of a head and hence is called heading lettuce, while those that grow freely are called looseleaf.  There are many sub-types as well, but the following four different sub-types of lettuce is majorly consumed:

Iceberg Lettuce: This variety is quite commonly used in almost every salad. It has a crispy bite to it and is packed with green leaves in a head shape thus also called crisp head lettuce.

Butterhead Lettuce: Butterhead lettuce is a delicate lettuce variety with supple leaves. These are used mostly as a garnish in any salad instead of a base.

Asparagus Lettuce: A member of the Asteraceae family also called Chinese lettuce or stem lettuce, it is used mainly in salads, soups, and steamed dishes.

Loose-leaf Lettuce: Available in green, red or reddish brown, these lettuce leaves are very delicate and only used to dress up a salad right before it is served.

Romaine Lettuce: With a tinge of bitterness to it in its leafy part, this lettuce is crisp and sweet at the ribs. It is used for salad dressings.

Also Read: Romaine Lettuce: Health Benefits, Nutrition, Uses, And Recipes

Health Incentives Of Lettuce

  • Sedative and antispastic properties present in lettuce leaves make them ideal to cure sleep disorders. Consumption of a few leaves or having its juice daily can help treat chronic insomnia and induce a good sleep
  • Omega 3 fatty acids are extremely essential for the proper functioning of the body. Most lettuce forms have Omega 3 which makes it a desirable leafy veggie
  • This leafy green is regarded as one of the topmost cancer-fighting vegetables and can effectively fight breast cancer and other cancer forms. It has a compound called Lutein which helps to kill cancer cells and reduce the risk of malignancy
  • Lettuce is an excellent source of Vitamin K, which helps in blood clotting, aid wound healing, and keep bones healthy
  • Lettuce has loads of Vitamin C that helps to fight the body against infections and strengthen the immune system

From butterheads to oak leaf or the famous iceberg, no matter which lettuce type you prefer, these gorgeous greens are loaded with a burst of freshness and essential minerals, Vitamins K, A, and folate, making it a sought-after veggie variety.
Want to know about its skin benefits? Foray into this infographic:
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