Calories in romaine lettuce

Information on Romaine Lettuce

Romaine lettuce is a very popular vegetable that is used in various types of salads. Each leaf serving of romaine lettuce contains about 2 calories, and is crispier and more tasty than ordinary lettuce. It has a sturdy, white colored middle rib and its leaves are commonly chopped in a random manner for various salads. It is also an important ingredient of various Middle Eastern dishes.

Romaine Lettuce: Calories and Nutrition

A good thing is that romaine lettuce can be purchased throughout the entire year. The rib part has a slightly bitter taste so it can be disposed if one prefers to do so. The milky liquid contained in the leaves is what actually provides the bitter taste. A serving of 47 grams of chopped romaine lettuce contains only 20 calories. That is the same amount of calories which can be found in a bigger than average serving of 6 leaves of romaine lettuce. Romaine lettuce does not contain any sodium, cholesterol or saturated fats and it contains carbohydrates only in moderate amounts. Romaine lettuce is among the healthiest sorts of vegetables in the world. Romaine lettuce is an excellent source of antioxidant substances. It is also very rich in dietary fiber, sugar, riboflavin, potassium, vitamin A, phosphorus, vitamin B6, manganese, vitamin C, magnesium, calcium and iron.

Romaine Lettuce: Health Benefits

Romaine lettuce can be of great help when it comes to enhancing the functioning of the digestive system and the heart. It is also very efficient in aiding the weight loss, reducing the blood pressure, decreasing the levels of bad cholesterol in the blood and increasing the levels of good cholesterol in the blood. It fights off the free radicals, reduces the damage they cause to the body and by doing so it also significantly reduces the risk of various types of cancer. Romaine lettuce can be added to virtually any type of diet without any concerns for one’s health. The only problem with romaine lettuce is that it can sometimes be contaminated with pesticide residues and E. coli bacteria. The leaves always need to be rinsed thoroughly before the consumption in order to avoid any side effects triggered by the aforementioned harmful substances. The same goes for the preparation of different sorts of salads which contain the romaine lettuce. One must always follow proper safety instructions before consuming raw romaine lettuce.