 |
Red leaf lettuce’s mild flavour and soft, colorful leaves make it a popular addition to salads.
This leaf lettuce, one of hundreds of varieties of lettuce grown throughout the world, has a mild, watery flavour and soft, buttery leaves tinged with red.
Red leaf lettuce is available all year long and is at its peak from mid-winter to early spring.
Wash lettuce just before using and drain or blot with paper towel to remove any excess moisture, or dry in a salad spinner. Toss with other salad greens, or stuff individual leaves with hummus and them roll up for a light lunch.
Red leaf lettuce, 1/2 cup (28g) (raw,
shredded)
Calories: 5
Protein: 0.36g
Carbohydrate: 0.98g
Total Fat: 0.08g
Fiber: 0.53g
*Good source of: Vitamin A (532 IU)
*Foods that are an “excellent source” of a particular nutrient provide 20% or more of the Recommended Daily Value, based upon United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines. Foods that are a “good source” of a particular nutrient provide between 10 and 20% of the USDA Recommended Daily Value. Nutritional information and daily nutritional guidelines may vary in different countries. Please consult the appropriate organization in your country for specific nutritional values and the recommended daily guidelines.
Some, but not all, studies have reported that eating more foods rich in beta-carotene or vitamin A was associated with a lower risk of cataracts. Synthetic beta-carotene supplementation has not been found to reduce the risk of cataract formation. It remains unclear whether natural beta-carotene from food or supplements would protect the eye or whether beta-carotene in food is merely a marker for other protective factors in fruits and vegetables high in beta-carotene.
Health benefits and
concerns for vegetables
Many health benefits and concerns associated with this food are applicable to other
vegetables. Read about health benefits and concerns
for vegetables for a full description.
Copyright © 2004 Healthnotes, Inc. All rights reserved. www.healthnotes.com
Learn more about Healthnotes, the company.
Learn more about the authors of Foodnotes.
The information presented in Foodnotes is for informational purposes only and was created by a team of U.S. registered dietitians and food experts. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements, making dietary changes, or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires December 2005.