Iceberg Lettuce
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.
The information presented in this website 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.
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