Superfood Spotlight: Romaine Lettuce
If salads are an integral part of your healthy diet, there is no domesticated green that can compare to Romaine lettuce. You can buy it year-round and it adds a slightly bitter crispness to your meal. If you don’t care for the bitter flavor or somewhat tough (compared to leaf lettuces) texture, but don’t want to miss out on the nutrition, they are a great green in green smoothies.
Nutrition in Romaine lettuce
This superfood is a great source of several vital nutrients – and you can get them in only sixteen calories per two-cup serving!
- Vitamin K allows normal blood clotting and prevents oxidative cell damage.
- Vitamin A promotes eye health and fights off viruses.
- Vitamin C has excellent anti-oxidant properties and helps your body absorb iron.
- Folate supports skin and red blood cell protection, and facilitates proper function of the nerves.
- Manganese helps with thyroid function, blood sugar levels, healthy bones and protection from free radicals.
- Chromium helps promote both healthy blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
Health benefits of Romaine lettuce
Need to lose weight? Despite its low-calorie content, this lettuce is quite filling, making it an ideal healthy weight loss food. It also contains nutrients essential for eye health: vitamin A, lutein and zeaxanthin.
The chromium makes it a great food for balancing blood sugar levels, and the lettuce contains several heart-healthy nutrients, such as folic acid, vitamin B6 and potassium, as well.
If you’re not including Romaine lettuce in your diet, you’re missing out on a highly nutritious, relatively low-cost superfood. Put it on your grocery list, and make a habit of eating it several times a week.
