Lettuce; world famous salad plant – Erakina

 close up of lettuce leaves

Scientific classification 

Kingdom – Plantae 

Class – Tracheophytes 

Class – Angiosperms

Class – Eudicots 

Class – Asterids 

Order – Asterales 

Family – Asteraceae 

Tribe – Cichorieae 

Genus – Lactuca 

Species – L. sativa 

About Lettuce 

• Lettuce is a temperate annual or biennial plant mostly grown as a leaf vegetable.
• The lettuce plant, in the beginning, has a short stem but when it grows and blooms the stem increases in length and branches. It produces a lot of flower heads that look like dandelions but are smaller in size 
• The process of producing flower heads is called bolting. When lettuce is grown to eat, it is harvested before it bolts.
• Lettuce plants can have taproots or fibrous root systems. Lettuce generally have a height and spread of 15 to 30 cm
• The colour of the leaves of domesticated varieties come in a wide range, from shades of green to deep red and purple.
• Lettuce requires a lot of water for successful cultivation especially in warmer weather. 
• There are hundreds of varieties of lettuce. The production of lettuce continues year around cause they peak at different times of the year.
• There are generally four main groups of cultivators based on head formation and leaf structure 
• Following are the groups: head lettuce, romaine or cos lettuce; stem or asparagus lettuce; leaf lettuce.
• Some lettuces are deliberately bred to remove the bitterness from their leaves. These have higher water content and very little nutrient value. The bitter and pigmented leaves contain antioxidants.
• Lettuce is a nutrient-dense and low-calorie food with high water content 

History of lettuce 

• Lettuce was first cultivated by the ancient Egyptians, they turned it from a weed whose seeds were used to produce oil, into a food plant grown for its succulent leaves 
• Lettuce was served to the Persian Kings of the sixth century BC, according to Herodotus 
• Lettuce spread to the Greeks and Romans, the Romans named it Lactuca from which the English lettuce is ultimately derived 
• The Romans carried lettuce into Western Europe and Asia to China
• The United States of America and the new world were introduced by Columbus. 
• Many varieties of lettuce were developed in Europe between the late sixteenth century and early eighteenth century.

Quick facts about lettuce 

• Lettuce is about 95 percent water, because of which it has to be eaten fresh and cannot be frozen, dried, canned, or pickled.
• In the United States of America, lettuce is the second most popular fresh veggie behind potato.
• Lettuce is a rich source of vitamin K and vitamin A and a moderate source of folate and iron.
• The contaminated lettuce is often a source of bacterial, parasitic, and viral outbreaks in humans.
• The presence of some fruits in the fridge may harm the lettuce, fruits like apples and bananas produce ethylene and this gas may promote lettuce ripening.
• The top five lettuce producing countries are; China, the United States of America, India, Spain, and Italy.
• Lettuce can provide the human body with protein, minerals, iron, and vitamins K, C, A. 
• Dark green lettuce leaves are more nutritious than light green leaves.
• There are hieroglyphic records of lettuce being grown over six thousand years ago.

the image of green and red leaves lettuce

Health benefits of lettuce 

• Hydration – water makes up over 95 percent of raw lettuce, as a result eating lettuce hydrates the body.
• Bone strength – lettuce provides vitamin K, which helps strengthen bones, consumption of vitamin K in adequate amounts also reduces the risk of bone fracture.
• Antioxidants – red leaf lettuce boasts a number of antioxidants that protect the body from damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals.
• Healthy heart – while no study directly tested the effects of lettuce on heart health, lettuce has 3 percent of the DV for magnesium and 5 percent for potassium. Potassium and magnesium maintain a healthy heartbeat and allow the heart’s muscle cells to relax.
• Lower blood pressure – potassium which is found in adequate amount in lettuce, appears to lower blood pressure by lessening the effects of sodium and helping dilate the blood vessels .
• Weight loss – lettuce is extremely low in calories but has a fair amount of fibre and has a higher water content which promotes weight loss .
• Improved sleep – extracts of multiple lettuce types have been shown to promote sleep.
• Improved vision – lettuce is a source of vitamin A, which plays a role in eye health. Vitamin A reduces the risk of cataracts
• Nutrition – the nutritional content of lettuce varies across varieties, almost all lettuces contain a significant amount of vitamin A, vitamin C, and iron.

By Sanket Sawant

18/01/2022