- It Helps With Weight Control
Keeping a pet guinea pig’s weight in check can be a difficult task. This is because guinea pigs seem to be at their happiest when eating. For this reason, some pet owners cannot resist the urge to keep giving them treats. Considering that treats tend to have high sugar levels, weight gain is usually inevitable in such cases.
This is where romaine lettuce comes in. Despite being tasty, this vegetable is low in calories, meaning that your piggy can munch on romaine lettuce all day without packing on the pounds. Moreover, romaine lettuce has a high dietary fiber content, which can leave your guinea pig feeling fuller longer.
- Strengthens the Immune System
Guinea pigs do not have robust immune systems due to their inability to synthesize vitamin C. This is why you are advised to include foods rich in vitamin C in your guinea pig’s diet, such as romaine lettuce, as this vitamin boosts immunity naturally by increasing the amount of white blood cells.
A deficiency in vitamin C can result in scurvy, a common disease among guinea pigs.
As mentioned, romaine lettuce is rich in dietary fiber, which makes digestion a lot smoother. Additionally, dietary fiber helps relieve constipation and other symptoms of an upset stomach.
However, moderation is always key. Make sure you don’t feed your guinea pig more than one cup of fruit and vegetables total each day.
- It Eliminates Free Radicals
Your guinea pig’s metabolic process can result in the release of free radicals. In a bid to gain stability, free radicals attack body cells, resulting in cell damage and a weaker immune system. When that happens, a guinea pig becomes highly susceptible to infections and diseases.
One of the best ways of circumventing this problem is by feeding your guinea pig a diet rich in antioxidants. This is because antioxidants neutralize free radicals, ensuring they do not attack cells in the piggy’s body.
Romaine lettuce is packed with antioxidants, which is another reason why it should be a staple in your guinea pig’s diet.
