Lettuce

A few plants can brag by the fact that their name became derivative for the name of the color, but the lettuce - without ceremony. Moreover without the exaggeration it is possible to say that in present season light-green color - one of the most fashionable and asked-for not only on world podiums, but also on each table.  Although the color can leave the mode, but the  tender vegetable itself ? never, as the fashion on slender figure, which we strive for, including in our daily ration this multifaceted plant.

Lettuce - well-known truck record holder, since it is one of the earliest vegetables.  It is charged with our good health, and also flexibility and slenderness.   This appetizing vegetable ?loads? organism with the balanced quantity of magnesium, calcium, potassium, phosphorus and iron.  So that not in vain in ancient Rome it was considered not only food, but also the universal remedy, which heals of any illnesses, and in ancient Greece it was used in the ritual rites and daily it was served up, attaching to it the ability to sober from the drunk wine. 

Contemporary scientific studies confirm the deferential relation of ancient to this modest vegetable. 

Scientists established that lettuce contains more than 5% of iron, which, as is known, is necessary to each of us for the normal health, indeed the composition of blood directly depends on its quantity in the organism.  Furthermore, there is sulfur in the lettuce - important component of hemoglobin, which plays the role of natural oxidizer. 

About 6% of organic salts of magnesium, which hide themselves in juicy salad depths, - irreplaceable building material for the cells of nervous system and pulmonary tissue.  Specifically, because of its presence in organism a normal blood circulation and a lot of other complex functions are supported, without which is impossible correct metabolism.  The refreshing and stimulating action of lettuce is explained by the presence of citric acid.  

Furthermore, it contains 38% of potassium and 15% of calcium. Thanks to such saturation by these life-giving minerals the lettuce, on the level with the cheese and the cottage cheese, is acknowledged

as one of leading suppliers of "construction materials" for bone tissues.  Phosphorus and silicon, entering into its composition, respectively answer for the normal work of brain and strengthening of nails and hair. Lettuce is useful with hypertension, it also improves the function of gastrointestinal tract and is prophylactic drug with avitaminosis, dysfunction of the thyroid gland, exhaustion of nervous system and atherosclerosis.

There are several varieties of lettuce. Familiar to all leaf lettuce can be independently grown on the bed either to purchase in the store or in the market.  Thin pale-green leaves with the edges-"ruches" - here to you its simple portrait.

Cabbage lettuce is characterized by rounded either almost triangular leaves with the smooth or toothed edges, painted somewhat brighter than in leaf one. During the ripening process such lettuce actually acquires the form of head.

Crisp-head lettuce forms a dense " head ", in this case its leaves as they are filled with air. It is stored very well in the refrigerator.

Oily lettuce was called its simple name because of the smooth, tender leaflets, which inside was covered with oily by touch skin.  It does not tolerate prolonged storage. 

  Exotic cress was born in Iran.  But, apparently, it was known even in ancient Egypt, since after  many centuries archaeologists detected its seeds in the pyramids.  The special feature of this form - high content of sulfur (more than 30% of a total quantity of all mineral elements and salts).  For its unique acute taste it is often called pepper shaker, pepper or feverish grass and used as acute salad seasoning to the meat and fish dishes.  The juice of this variety of lettuce - very powerful purifying drug for the bowels. Therefore it should not be drunk in the pure form.  Nutritionists recommend to dilute it with other vegetable juices, for example, celery, pumkin or carrot. 

  Lettuce - heat-loving Mediterranean plant.  The white and thick juice of it is very similar outwardly to the milk (on -Latin - the " varnish"). Exactly because of this perceptible special feature the plant was called so.  Lettuce was very popular in ancient Rome.

 The external decorativeness of leaves of any variety of lettuce will gladden you without fail. In addition, the lettuce successfully supplements meat and vegetable cocktails or decorates sandwiches by its verdure.  Its ground leaves are used as the seasoning to the soups or sauces.  Furthermore, cold snacks - meat, fish, sausage, cheeses or, for example, sliced cucumbers and tomatoes will look much more spectacular on the green " carpet " from entire leaves.  If you want to decorate originally your holiday table, you will immerse small lettuce " bouquets " into the glasses together with the field flowers, for example, camomiles, cornflowers or the poppies, and arrange the improvised vases between the dishes.