Butterhead is a type of lettuce that got its name from the fact that it has soft leaves and it comes in the form of a loose head. The next time you whip up a sandwich, bowl of salad or glass of smoothie, consider tossing in this leafy vegetable. Doing so lets you enjoy a number of health benefits, courtesy of butterhead’s notable nutritional profile.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the perks to enjoy for adding butterhead to your diet:
It Regulates Blood Sugar Level
Diabetics and prediabetics can benefit a lot from the regular consumption of butterhead. Because this leafy vegetable is rich in fiber, it helps in regulating the amount of sugar released into the bloodstream. It’s no secret that diabetics and prediabetics alike should maintain normal levels of sugar in the blood to fend off complications.
It Helps Prevent Constipation
Because butterhead contains fiber, it’s a wonderful addition to the diet of anyone who is prone to constipation. Fiber helps create bulk that facilitates the expulsion of waste products and toxins in the colon. According to doctors, butterhead and other fiber-rich vegetables may also help lower colon cancer risk.
It May Reduce Risk of Heart Disease
Fiber in butterhead is not only good for controlling blood sugar and preventing constipation, but also lowering one’s risk of heart disease. Cholesterol in the food you eat is flushed out of the body by fiber, keeping it from accumulating in the arteries. With normal cholesterol levels, heart attack and stroke may be kept from striking.
It Prevents Excessive Bleeding
Every serving of butterhead contains good amounts of vitamin K. While it’s true that it isn’t as popular as other vitamins, it is actually needed by your body to prevent excessive bleeding from happening when you have a wound or undergoing a surgical procedure. That’s because vitamin K promotes proper clotting of the blood.
It Also Fends Off Osteoporosis
Another role carried out by vitamin K in butterhead is bone strengthening. According to scientists, the said vitamin helps calcium, a mineral so important for keeping the bones strong, to be absorbed by the body more effectively. So if you want to lower your risk of osteoporosis, you should eat foods that are rich in calcium and also vitamin K.
It Strengthens the Immune System
Another vitamin that you can obtain from butterhead is vitamin C. As everybody knows, this nutrient is an immune system strengthener. Vitamin C works by activating some of the most powerful immune cells in the body so that you are always protected from invading bacteria and viruses that can cause infections.
It Promotes Healthy Eyes, Too
Vitamin A is also supplied by every serving of butterhead. Eye specialists say that the regular inclusion of vitamin A-rich foods in the diet is the secret to lowering a person’s risk of developing macular degeneration, cataracts and other problems concerning the eyes. Vitamin A in butterhead is important, too, for keeping the vision sharp.
It Lowers Neural Tube Defects in Babies
Pregnant moms should regularly consume butterhead most especially during the early stages of their pregnancy. That’s because this type of lettuce is a good source of folate, a nutrient that is known to help lower risk of neural tube defects in babies. Neural tube defects are characterized by the abnormal formation of the brain and spinal cord.
These are some of the most impressive health benefits that you may enjoy simply by consuming butterhead as regularly as you can. Don’t forget to share this article on your various social media sites to get your health-conscious family members and friends introduced to the perks offered by butterhead, too!
