Romaine lettuce is a leafy green, which is incredibly essential in a healthy diet. Even though it might not be the healthiest or most nutritious of the leafy greens, romaine lettuce is healthy for you. And, a fun study showing how romaine can affect your glucose levels will tell you why romaine is a good addition to your diet.
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Why Leafy Greens Are Important
Leafy greens are an extremely important component in our diet because they are rich in vitamins, boost our immune system, contain antioxidants, and help maintain a healthy weight. With high levels of vitamins A, C, E, and K as well as low levels of sodium, cholesterol, and carbohydrates, leafy greens should be in your daily diet. Some other leafy greens besides romaine include kale, collard greens, mustard greens, arugula, spinach, and Swiss chard.
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How Romaine Affects Blood Glucose Levels
Romain lettuce specifically has been shown to help manage blood sugar levels after a meal. In this study, a control group was fed three of the same meals, but on one of the occasions, they added romaine lettuce. The times that romaine was not included in the meal, blood glucose levels were higher. With meals that did contain romaine, not only did the blood sugar levels halt but they started decreasing.
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Keeping blood glucose levels down is very important to staying healthy. Having high blood sugar can cause serious and permanent damage if let go for long periods of time. It can damage the eyes, heart, and kidneys. Sugar, after digestion, turns into fat which can store itself in places in your body that could be detrimental.
How To Incorporate Romaine In Your Diet
If you want to incorporate more romaine lettuce into your diet, here are some of our favorite recipes!
- Fresh, Never-Frozen Meals: A new menu of 30+ dietitian-designed options every week.
- Cooked to Perfection: Prepared by gourmet chefs and delivered fresh to you.
- Zero Prep, No Mess: Just heat and enjoy in minutes.
- Caesar Salad
- Steak Lettuce Wraps
- Sauteed Romaine
- Chicken Taco Salad
- Grilled Chicken Breast With Tadka-ish Sauce
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