A salad staple, iceberg lettuce goes well with red onions and
tomatoes.
Iceberg lettuce is actually a variety of crisphead lettuce (the other type of head lettuce
is butterhead). It comes in round, tightly packed heads with large, pale leaves that can be
fairly succulent, though bland in flavor.
Varieties
Other varieties of crisphead lettuce include Great Lakes, Imperial,
Vanguard, and Western.
Buying and storing tips
Iceberg lettuce can be found in the produce section of most health
food stores and supermarkets. Look for firm, heavy heads with fresh leaves and no sign of
browning or wilting. Store iceberg lettuce in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to a
week.
Availability
Iceberg lettuce is available all year long and is at its peak from
June through December.
Preparation, uses, and tips
Wash iceberg lettuce just before using. Cut the heads into wedges and
serve with low-fat blue cheese dressing, thinly sliced red
onions, and diced tomatoes.
Nutritional Highlights
Iceberg lettuce (raw, shredded), 1 cup (56g)
Calories: 6.6
Protein: 0.55g
Carbohydrate: 1.15g
Total Fat: 0.104g
Fiber: 0.77g
Health benefits and concerns
Cancer
Foods high in vitamin K such as
vegetables typically are associated with low cancer risk. Despite the fact that the
anti-vitamin K drug warfarin might reduce the risk of
cancer under certain circumstances, no evidence suggests that avoidance of vitamin K (from
food or from supplements) would in any way help protect against cancer.
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 © 2002 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 2003.
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