Wild Lettuce health benefits include maintaining respiratory health, fighting migraines and headache, acting as painkiller, supporting psychological health, treating urinary tract infection, fighting atherosclerosis, treating insomnia, improving skin condition, helping maintain body weight, and treating premenstrual syndrome.
Leafy greens are a powerhouse of various nutrients that are potent enough to keep a slew of health ailments at bay. This is why nutritionists recommend consuming an adequate quantity of organic leafy vegetables on a daily basis.
Incorporating wild lettuce into your bowl of salad could become a highly nutritious option. It is loaded with vitamin C, which is an antioxidant. Antioxidants are essential to maintaining your overall health as the nutrients are known to dismantle factors that contribute to chronic diseases.
What is Wild Lettuce?
Wild lettuce is similar to garden lettuce but is bitter in taste. It is a biennial herb that belongs to the sunflower and Lactuca genus family. The vegetable contains a milky juice which is bitter but possesses numerous health benefits.
Additionally, seeds, latex, and leaves of the plant are widely used to prepare the herbal medicine. Wild lettuce is a versatile leafy vegetable that works as a sedative and treats urinary tract infections.
Nutritional Value of Wild Lettuce
- Beta Carotene 100g
- Calcium 100g
- Magnesium 100g
- Sodium 100g
- Vitamin C 100g
10 Health Benefits of Wild Lettuce
1. Maintains Respiratory Health
Wild lettuce is a storehouse of antitussive properties that are essential to treat asthma and constant coughs. The properties function to alleviate irritation occurs in the lungs and bronchial tubes. Asthma patients often encounter difficulty in breathing which wild lettuce can control effectively.
Incorporating a few leaves of the leafy vegetable maintain your overall respiratory health combating symptoms of bronchitis and allergy. You should also consult with your primary care physician before consuming wild lettuce in case of respiratory problems.
2. For Migraines and Headaches
Wild lettuce is packed with nutrients that have the potential to provide relief from a headache and even a migraine. There are various factors which result in a severe headache and can continue for days if not treated rightly. Herbal tea made with dried lettuce leaves works well due to its sedative qualities. Nutritionists recommend consuming a cup of freshly brewed tea before bedtime for instant relief from a headache.
3. Works as a Painkiller
The action of components found in wild lettuce is considered similar to how morphine alleviating pain and soothing the nervous system in a short time span. You can find the vegetable beneficial for joint pain, colic, arthritis, muscle pain, and uterine cramps.
4. For Psychological Health
Wild lettuce is a storehouse of components necessary to maintain your psychological health. Stress and anxiety are two factors that contribute to various chronic psychological diseases. That is why you are suggested to opt for a lifestyle that helps reduce these dismantling factors.
For instance, incorporating meditation and workouts on a regular basis can help you in this context. Nutritionists also emphasized on consuming organic food sources such as wild lettuce at least once a day to sustain your overall psychological health.
5. For Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)
Urinary tract infections are a harrowing health ailment. And a series of medications are required to treat the painful infection. Wild lettuce is said to possess mild diuretic property. You can impede the onset of the urinary tract infections via incorporating fresh wild lettuce leaves into your salad bowl or consuming its tea. In most cases, urinary infections indicate a severe kidney problem. Therefore, consult with your physician and avoid opting for self-medication to prevent a further health problem.
6. For Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis makes your arteries stiff and thick. As a result, your blood pressure increases hindering proper blood flow to your tissues and organs. Build up of cholesterol and fats in the walls also make your arteries fall vulnerable to atherosclerosis.
Moreover, you can control the condition via incorporating organic leaves into your salad, consuming freshly brewed tea, or even seed oil of the wild lettuce. Each part of the vegetable is a powerhouse of nutrients that promote elasticity and flexibility of your arteries. It is worth mentioning that consulting a cardiologist is highly suggested when prone to arteries problem to steer clear of other cardiovascular diseases.
7. Wild Lettuce tea for Insomnia
Insomnia is a rapidly growing health problem. There is no denying that an improper sleep schedule affects your overall body significantly leaving you unable to perform any task. You can treat your insomnia by consuming at least one cup of wild lettuce tea. The herb is sedative in nature and soothes your tensed nerves allowing you an uninterrupted sleep for hours.
8. Improves Skin Condition
Skin infections are stressful and there is no way you can treat them at home. However, you can always stop the occurrence of skin problems by eating clean. Beauty gurus encourage increasing the intake of leafy greens like wild lettuce to prevent major or minor skin diseases. The leaves of wild lettuce are packed with vitamin C. The antioxidants are your skin’s best friend.
The nutrients help destroy skin damaging factors such as free radicals which are known to dismantle delicate skin cells. When your body receives the required amount of antioxidants on a daily basis, it will begin treating skin infections and other problems alike. You should visit your dermatologist if you experience irritation, itchiness, or chapped skin and refrain from home remedies.
9. For Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
A nutritionist recommended consuming tea made with wild lettuce to treat various health problems one of which is a premenstrual syndrome. The syndrome brings uneasiness, pain, and anxiety affecting the quality of your life. You can sip on some warm wild lettuce tea to relieve the condition in no time.
10. Helps Maintain Body Weight
Wild lettuce contains no calories and is a storehouse of necessary nutrients. This makes it an ideal leafy vegetable when it comes to shedding extra pounds. You can incorporate it into various salads and smoothie recopies. The leafy vegetable will provide your daily dose of minerals like potassium, calcium, and magnesium along with plenty of vitamin C without any fat content.
Obese individuals can consume wild lettuce on a daily basis to facilitate their weight loss journey. Moreover, these minerals and antioxidant will function to boost your metabolic rate which is essential maintain your overall health.
Bottom Line
There is no question that organic food sources like wild lettuce can do wonders for you. You can make it a necessary part of your diet to reap health benefits associated with it.
However, in case of a serious health condition or chronic diseases, you are advised to consult with your primary care provider before opting for self-medication to avoid further health damage.
