Lettuce

History

Carvings in temple at Senusret I at Karnak, depict the earliest use of lettuce. Lettuce is probably the oldest cultivated vegetable. Lettuce also finds mention as an aphrodisiac food in ancient Egypt. Greek physicians were of the view that lettuce could be a sleep inducing diet food and recommended it to patients who suffered from sleep related disorders.

Temperate climate is considered the best for growing lettuce and it is extensively found in Europe, Asia, and North America.

Purpose/Use

Lettuce is often grown as a green leafy vegetable. It is often eaten raw and is used in salads and sandwiches all over the world. Lettuce can be combined with other vegetables or can be cooked separately as a culinary preparation. Both stem and leaves of lettuce are edible. As lettuce is low in calorie, it can be consumed freely.

Features & Benefits

Common varieties of lettuce are iceberg lettuce, butter lettuce, and romaine lettuce. Doctors recommend lettuce consumption to patients suffering from indigestion. It aids digestion and reduces risks associated with heart diseases and strokes. Lettuce is considered a rich source of chlorophyll and vitamin K. It is also rich in vitamin A, B1, B2, and vitamin C. You can expect good quantity of folic acid, manganese, and chromium in lettuce.