Is the white part of romaine lettuce healthy?

Does the dark green part hold more nutrients than the white part of lettuce? Specifically, darker green lettuce leaves are likely to be significantly higher in beta carotene, folate, vitamins C and K, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and iron. The thicker, whiter part of the lettuce leaf is also much higher in water.

What parts of romaine lettuce should you eat?

Chop the lettuce into bite-sized pieces starting from the leafy end and moving towards the core end. Thicker pieces look like this. Large pieces of lettuce are perfect for any salad. Their crispy texture goes well with croutons, silky dressings, chunky tomatoes, and bits of pita.

What is the white part of lettuce called?

The white sap is a milky fluid made of latex that’s naturally found in the lettuce and is completely harmless. The botanical name for the substance is lactucarium, which comes from lactus, the Latin word for milk (the botanical name for lettuce is lactuca sativa, which also stems from this word).

Is spinach or romaine lettuce better for you?

Boiling spinach releases the oxalates and many nutrients into the cooking water. Romaine is on the milder end of the greens spectrum but still nutritious. “It’s definitely a step up from iceberg lettuce,” Mangieri said. If you’re bored even with spinach, advance to bitter arugula or try trendy kale.

What is the most nutritious way to eat lettuce?

Butter lettuce Also called Boston or bibb lettuce, butter lettuce is the most nutritious of the lettuces on this list. The leaves are higher in folate, iron, and potassium than iceberg or leaf lettuces.

Do you wash romaine before cutting?

How to Store Romaine Lettuce. Do not wash or cut lettuce until you are ready to use it. Wrap the lettuce leaves loosely in a paper towel to absorb moisture.

Is the white part of lettuce edible?

A. Yes, I’m afraid that the darker green part of the lettuce leaf is probably higher in certain nutrients than the white part closer to the stem.

Why is romaine lettuce bad for you?

Romaine lettuce from this growing region has been linked with an outbreak of E. coli that has sickened 40 people in 16 states. Of these, 28 people have been hospitalized and five have developed a serious kidney condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome. No deaths have been linked with the outbreak so far.

What’s the White Stuff in romaine lettuce?

Cut or break the bottom of a leaf of romaine lettuce and you may see a strange milky liquid seep out from the stem where it broke off. While it may look a bit ominous, there’s no need for alarm. The white sap is a milky fluid made of latex that’s naturally found in the lettuce and is completely harmless.

What kind of flavor does romaine lettuce have?

The lettuce itself grows in a rather tall head of thick, durable leaves, with a solid rib down the middle of each leaf. The white or clear fluid that is released from this rib when the lettuce is cut is believed to give the lettuce its characteristic flavor – mildly bitter and earthy.

What can you do with Romaine lettuce leaves?

Use the leaves as a “tortilla” and make a lettuce wrap. Romaine lettuce is ideal for a lettuce wrap because of the shape and strength of the leaves. Add to a smoothie or juice blend. Saute, broil, or braise. Top a spicy soup. Garnish a sandwich.

Which is better for you romaine or iceberg lettuce?

Pale iceberg lettuce, for example, has only a fraction of the nutrients found in darker romaine lettuce. And within a single head of lettuce, the darker outer leaves, which are exposed to more sunlight, are more nutritious than the paler inner ones.