Garden lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is a member of the Compositae family, and is a popular food that is consumed all year round. Commonly the leaves of the plant are eaten in salads, but traditional medicine uses the seeds of the plant for the treatment of a variety of disorders. Studies suggest that lettuce seeds have a dose-dependent analgesic effect and a dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effect. Lettuce seeds are also thought to be useful as a treatment for sleep and mood disorders, and studies have investigated the effects of consuming lettuce seeds on subjects with or without anxiety. The results of the study showed that those subjects receiving lettuce seeds had significantly improved sleep compared to other subjects consuming a placebo. In addition the lettuce seeds were significantly effective at reducing the anxiety of the subjects. No side effects were reported by the authors of the study, suggesting that lettuce seeds are an effective and safe treatment for anxiety and sleep problems.
Lettuce seeds have an anti-inflammatory effect. As mood disorders are caused by brain inflammation, this may explain the beneficial effects of lettuce seeds on anxiety. Reducing anxiety may then improve sleep, and this could explain, at least in part, the sleep enhancing effects of lettuce seeds.
Eat Well, Stay Healthy, Protect Yourself
RdB
