Is it safe to eat lettuce during pregnancy? A mere mention of green, fresh, and crisp lettuce may be appetizing for salad lovers. Lettuce is a versatile vegetable that helps add fiber to your meal without compromising the taste. While it is known that green vegetables should be added to one’s diet when expecting, read this post to know the health benefits and safety measures to be followed while eating lettuce when pregnant.
What Is Lettuce?
Lettuce, scientifically popular as Lactuca sativa, is a useful vegetable native to Egypt. The plant is popular for its unique religious and cultural significance in ancient Egypt. However, today you can find the plant in several parts of the world. Lettuce possesses several nutrients and has many health benefits.
Can You Eat Lettuce During Pregnancy?
You can enjoy eating delicacies or lettuce salad during pregnancy containing. However, wash the leaves thoroughly before you eat it. Unwashed lettuce may contain certain parasites and bacteria such as ListeriaiXA genus of bacteria that enter the human body via contaminated food and is responsible for food poisoning. and Salmonella. Also, the best way to wash them is by rinsing individual leaves under running water (1).
10 Health Benefits Of Lettuce During Pregnancy
Eating lettuce not only satisfies your food craving while expecting but also offers you several health benefits. Here are some benefits of eating lettuce during pregnancy.
1. Prevents Birth Defects:
Lettuce contains a good amount of folic acid which prevents the risk of birth defectsiXAbnormalities that can affect any part of the body and have been present since birth. during pregnancy (2). The mineral and vitamin content of lettuce ensures a healthy pregnancy. Vitamin K reduces the risk of hemorrhagingiXThe uncontrolled loss of blood or any other fluid, internally or externally. , and it passes through the placenta and benefits the unborn baby (3).
2. Promotes Digestion:
The fiber content of lettuce promotes smooth digestion and prevents constipation hazards during pregnancy. The vegetable also contains chloride that aids digestion and normalizes body fluids effectively (4).
3. Promotes Sound Sleep:
Lettuce acts as a natural sleep inducer and helps you have continuous, sound sleep during pregnancy. The vegetable blocks excitatory signal processes of your neural and muscular tissues and promotes relaxation while expecting (5).
4. Reduces Cholesterol Levels:
Lettuce helps regulate your cholesterol levels and prevents the risk of heart-related problems and strokes during pregnancy (1).
5. Anti-Cancer Benefits:
The phytonutrients in fresh lettuce leaves are highly beneficial for preventing the growth and development of cancer. So, the consumption of vegetables during pregnancy may safeguard you from some types of cancer (6).
6. Alleviate Inflammation:
Lettuce provides anti-inflammatory benefits that aid in mitigating inflammation during pregnancy. Fresh extracts of lettuce minimize harmful inflammation resulting due to carrageenaniXIt is a substance constituted of polysaccharides and extracted from edible red seaweeds. It is used as a thickening agent in several food items. and lipoxygenaseiXAn enzyme that is used to catalyze the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids by oxygen. (7).
7. Protects From Microbial Infections:
The latex of lettuce provides you with powerful antimicrobial benefits. The vegetable helps you get rid of Candida albicans and safeguards you from harmful microbial infections effectively (8).
8. Minimize Anxiety:
Lettuce offers a sedating effect and helps reduce your stress and anxiety to a great extent during pregnancy (5).
9. Boosts Immunity:
Lettuce contains lots of antioxidants that help neutralize free radicals and prevent cell, tissue, and DNA damage during pregnancy. Antioxidant content of the vegetable boosts your immunity and prevents the risk of the development of harmful diseases and disorders (9).
A Word Of Caution:
Excess consumption of lettuce in pregnancy may make you suffer from food allergies. Unregulated consumption of lettuce can also lead to anaphylaxis that may affect your health adversely. So, make sure you add appropriate amounts of lettuce to your regular diet after consulting your doctor.
