Iceberg Salad: Health Benefits

Iceberg salad is a low-calorie product with a pleasant taste. It is enjoyed with pleasure even by those who are on a strict diet.

The origin of the product name is interesting. They began to grow it in California. In order to deliver it to other states fresh and strong, the cabbage heads were transported with ice during transportation. From here came the witty name of the vegetable - an iceberg.

What does an iceberg salad look like

Iceberg salad is an ancient vegetable crop. It is a type of lettuce salad that has smaller, curly leaves. In appearance, it resembles white cabbage. It is characterized by the same round shape of a head of cabbage, like cabbage, belongs to cruciferous, but is a leaf lettuce. Light green leaves are not so tightly adjacent to each other as in cabbage, so they are easily separated from each other. If the leaves are difficult to separate, then such a salad is considered to be overripe. Its taste qualities are violated. He may be slightly bitter.

Composition and calorie content

This product contains a large amount of water - about 90%, and one of the lowest calorie content - about 14 kcal. But this vegetable is unusually rich in healthy vitamins. This, of course, should be borne in mind by those who seek to lose weight.

Feel free to include this salad in your diet. It contains almost all B vitamins, except B12. Fiber in the product supports good digestion. Choline - a vitamin belonging to group B, is almost not produced by our own body, but is present in excess in lettuce. It plays a crucial role in the complex work of our brain, nervous system and liver. It also effectively protects cells from aging and destruction.

Beta-carotene is also in sufficient quantity in this vegetable. It normalizes the activity of many body systems. Increases immunity, improves eyesight, is an excellent prophylactic against cataracts and glaucoma.

The plant has folic acid, phosphorus, and potassium, as well as magnesium and sodium. Available in copper and calcium. This is a must-have product for those who limit themselves to food.

The abundance of these useful substances in this product makes the iceberg truly unique and absolutely necessary in the diet of each family member, regardless of age.

What is useful iceberg salad

It is difficult to list all the components of this product that are unique in their benefits, without forgetting or missing anything. There are a lot of them, and all of them, of course, are necessary and useful for the normal functioning of the systems of our body.

The undoubted advantage of this salad in the rich composition of all its elements. It contains almost all the vitamins of group B. With a 58 percent presence of proteins in the product, it contains only 38% carbohydrates and only about 8% fat. This ratio of low-calorie and high protein, probably not in any other product. It should also be noted the complete absence of cholesterol in the salad, which is very important for every person who monitors their health.

The salad is famous for the following beneficial properties:

• Strengthens the nervous system.
• Normalizes mental activity.
• Improves intestinal motility and normalizes metabolism.

It is actively used in cosmetology. The vegetable is saturated with a substance such as magnesium, which synthesizes collagen, which is so necessary for beautiful and healthy skin. The regular use of this salad will get rid of fine wrinkles, make the skin smooth and give it shine.Moisturizes any type of skin and supports metabolic fat processes. It will take care of moisturizing the scalp and relieve dandruff. Prevents hair loss, makes them strong, shiny and healthy.

The use of leaves in masks moisturizes and nourishes the skin. This product also repairs damaged hair and nails. Rinse hair well with juice.

Iceberg salad stimulates the production of the necessary hormone of joy - serotonin. It is he who helps to cope with depression. Helps to restore strength with emotional stress.

Breastfeeding Iceberg Salad

When breastfeeding, a young mother should be very careful about her diet. It should be the optimal content of the necessary and useful substances for feeding the baby. Nutrition must be varied, while you need to eat a balanced diet. It should also contain vitamins necessary for the normal growth and development of the child. But you must also consider how this nutrition affects the well-being of the baby. Does the digestive system work normally, are there allergic reactions to any product.

As for the iceberg salad, we can definitely say that it is simply necessary to include nursing mothers in your diet.

1. Salad does not cause absolutely no allergy.
2. Contains Vitamin A, which supports vision, skin health, plays a special role in enhancing immunity.
3. It contains vitamin E necessary for a person from the moment of birth to the very old age. Supports the normal functioning of blood vessels. Regulates blood pressure. Prevents the appearance in blood vessels of life-threatening blood clots.
4. It has vitamin C in its chemical composition - otherwise it is called ascorbic acid.

Who has not heard about the extraordinary properties of vitamin C! The human body cannot produce it itself, and this vitamin is vital. He is involved in the formation of collagen, so needed by us in the joints and skin. Without it, recovery from injuries is impossible. With the help of vitamin C, the body metabolizes iron and fights heart attacks.

A lot of women after birth gain weight. This salad is better than any other product saturates the body, without adding extra pounds. Lose weight without harming your health! Salad is easily digested and normalizes the digestive tract.

It is important for a nursing mother that this salad increases lactation, which is undoubtedly very important for breastfeeding. The product perfectly saturates the woman's body with important and necessary trace elements, which avoids vitamin deficiency. By removing excess fluid from the body, it fights against edema.

In the first month of a child’s life, doctors recommend that nursing mothers eat only food that has been heat-treated. It is recommended to introduce salad into the diet not earlier than the child turns 1 month old. You need to use 1-2 sheets in the morning, no more. Over time, if a child responds well to this product, the serving can be increased. If there is any negative reaction, the reception of this product should be discontinued. Also requires a large amount of oxalic acid in this vegetable. In urolithic and gallstone diseases, this acid can provoke the formation of stones.

The healing properties of iceberg lettuce

1. The role of this salad in normalizing the digestive process of the body is invaluable.
2. This vegetable also plays a special role in the process of blood renewal.
3. Lactucin, present in its chemical composition, is a good painkiller.
4. It is recommended to include an iceberg in food for people engaged in intense mental work, as well as for all students. It stimulates the brain.
5. The abundance of B vitamins helps to cope with anemia. Significantly increases the immunity of people who have had serious illnesses.
6. This product is an excellent disinfectant for the oral cavity, so it can be safely and successfully used to treat stomatitis. Also, the salad perfectly eliminates bad breath due to diseases of the stomach or the presence of decayed teeth.

Overweight people are strongly advised to include iceberg lettuce in their diet. Lettuce contains vitamin K: it helps to stabilize the work of many organs and systems of the human body.

The substances that make up this unique vegetable normalize metabolism, significantly improve vision, and restore the normal process of blood formation. The systematic inclusion of this product in the diet helps to combat the stresses of the central nervous system, removes from depression, treats insomnia, and saves from the negative consequences of frequent stresses. The composition of vitamins and minerals contained in the leaves provides invaluable assistance in normalizing the functioning of the cardiovascular system, protecting us from heart attacks and strokes. Calcium strengthens tooth enamel and bones.

Beta-carotene is another useful element that is in sufficient quantity in this product, supports vision, strengthens the muscles of the eyes.

The essential folic acid in lettuce leaves it indispensable in the diet of pregnant women and nursing mothers. It provides the production of enough milk to feed the baby. During the period of gestation, it prevents the formation of pathologies of the fetus. It is also folic acid that helps to keep the nervous system in tone, which is necessary for students during the session or for people engaged in mental work.

The systematic use of lettuce leaves maintains a normal level of hemoglobin in the blood, removes excess salts from the body. Freshly squeezed juice from lettuce is very useful. It is recommended to take it for diseases of the stomach: gastritis and ulcer. Some researchers believe that this vegetable should be consumed for the prevention of cancer.

Widespread use of lettuce in folk medicine. There are many recipes for various infusions and decoctions. But you should never self-medicate. It is always best to consult your doctor.

Harm and contraindications

Despite the abundance of useful substances that make up this product, you can not fully rely on it, trying to lose weight. It would be wrong to eat only this vegetable three times a day. Everything needs a reasonable measure.

There are practically no contraindications to the use of this salad. But, although this product does not cause any allergies, some people may have intolerance to greens in their raw form, so before you enter the product on your menu, make sure that you do not have such a problem. Perhaps the only serious concern may be oxalic acid, which is part of it. People with urolithiasis or cholelithiasis should consult a doctor before taking this product.

It is not recommended to eat salad if you have a disease such as gout. You should also not abuse leaves when exacerbating diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Although, when the disease is in remission, on the contrary, they recommend the product for use.

Iceberg lettuce bitter: why and what to do

Many lovers of this product know that it can be bitter. The main cause of bitterness is a lack of moisture. Simply put, it was watered little when it grew. Also, the fact that he was later torn from the garden could also become a cause of bitterness.The leaves became coarser, and bitterness appeared in them. If you want to fix the salad, get rid of its bitterness, divide it into leaves, cut the root. Then you need to put everything in a pan with salty cold water and add pieces of ice. Bitterness will go away.

There is also a recipe for getting rid of bitterness. It is also necessary to immerse in cold water, but add there not salt, but citric acid.

Bitterness itself is not a sign of spoilage of the product, so if you like this taste, you can safely eat these leaves for food. At the same time, bitterness does not affect the quality of the product itself. She even gives some piquancy to the taste of the prepared dishes, which also finds her fans and admirers.

Why iceberg lettuce blushes on a cut

In any of the products that appear on our table from those that are not subjected to heat treatment, there are active enzymes that are very useful to us. A change in color or the appearance of reddish-brown spots on the leaf tips indicates the oxidation or destruction of these living enzymes during storage. This does not mean that the salad is spoiled.

A pink hue on the cut may appear from a metal knife. Replace the knife with a ceramic or a knife with a silicone coating. And best of all, when cooking, tear it with your hands. Salad with a reddened cut is quite suitable for consumption. It does not change its taste and properties.

How to choose and store iceberg lettuce

1. Like any other vegetable, you need to choose this salad primarily in appearance. It should be smooth on all sides, not crushed, elastic and springy to the touch. If the leaves are very dense and look more like cabbage, then this crop was harvested very late and it does not have the taste qualities that are needed.
2. Leaflets should not fall apart.
3. Weight a little less than a pound.
4. Leaves are even green.
5. Be sure to pay attention to the root. If it is darkened at the cut, you do not need to take a salad: it is stale.

An iceberg lasts much longer than other leafy salads. In the refrigerator at a temperature of from -2 to +5 degrees, it is stored up to 5 days. Some housewives recommend wrapping the salad with a wet towel and putting it in the refrigerator. So it is possible to significantly increase its shelf life. It must be remembered that the fresh product is elastic and crispy, and this is its beauty. If these qualities have changed, it is unlikely that you can fully enjoy such a meal.

What can I make from iceberg lettuce

The leaves of this salad have a lot of water. They are juicy, crunchy appetizing and neutral in taste, so they go well with almost all products and dressings. Use it only in its raw form, which allows you to save all the useful elements that make up this product. Leaves can be cut, you can tear with your hands. It depends on what shape and size are needed when preparing a particular dish. If you cut the salad with a knife, it is better not to use iron, but to take ceramic. Then there will be no oxidation, and the cut will not take on a pinkish tint.

Thanks to its neutral taste, the iceberg goes well with almost any product. It can be meat (preferably chicken or turkey), and fish (salted, smoked, dried), seafood, mushrooms and vegetables, even fruits (especially pears, apples, citrus fruits and pineapple). Of cheeses, it is best to add cheddar or parmesan.

To add piquancy to the salad, add pine nuts, crackers, cherry tomatoes. It is almost impossible to make a mistake with the ingredients. Let your imagination fly and create in the kitchen, creating new culinary masterpieces.

Shrimp and Iceberg Salad Recipe

The composition of this salad includes the ingredients:

• Iceberg Salad - 350 g.
• King prawns large - 300 g.
• Black pitted olives - 10 pieces.
• Capers - 30 g.
• Chicken egg - 3 pieces.
• Sour cream to taste.

Cooking:

1. Wash and dry the lettuce.
2. Throw out the root, tear the leaves into large enough parts.
3. Boil the shrimp.
4. Boil eggs, cool and cut into strips.
5. Cut olives and capers into slices.
6. Mix everything and season with sour cream.

Lettuce can be cut, or you can just tear it with your hands.

Salad with boiled pork and pickles

Essential Ingredients:

• Iceberg Salad - 30 g.
• Boiled Pork - 250 g.
• Pickled Cucumber - 1-2 pcs.
• Mayonnaise to taste.
• Lemon juice - 2 tsp.
• Apple - 1 pc.

Cooking:

1. The greens are washed and cut into strips.
2. The meat is cut into slices.
3. Cucumbers must be cut into straws.
4. The apple is cut in thin slices.
5. All ingredients are combined, lemon juice and mayonnaise are added.

Interesting Iceberg Lettuce Facts

1. The ancient Greeks used an iceberg every day, believing that it acts as sleeping pills, painkillers and is able to sober up after drinking wine.
2. In ancient Egypt, it was originally grown to produce oil and seeds, and only much later began to be eaten.
3. The Americans came up with the original transportation of the product over long distances, covering it with ice. Hence the name of the salad.

The benefits of eating iceberg lettuce are undeniable. It has a very beneficial effect on all functions and systems of the body. Enriches with the necessary amount of biologically active nutrients, so important and necessary for health and well-being. It is frankly amazing how such a seemingly unpretentious product can contain such a huge amount of useful substances, and besides, this salad is truly a champion in the number of calories in it. It is good for eating and individual leaves, and included in various salads and snacks. It can be consumed at any age. It does not cause any adverse allergic reactions in anyone.

Iceberg lettuce photo