Is romaine lettuce or iceberg lettuce better for you? (2023)

What is the healthiest lettuce to eat?

Leaf lettuce. One of the more nutritious of the lettuce family, leaf lettuce is low in calories and high in potassium and vitamins A and K.

Nutritionally speaking, romaine is deemed superior to iceberg. Romaine is packed with nutrients, including vitamins A and C, and good amounts of folic acid and magnesium. The darker green leafy parts provide more nutritional value than the white crunchy centers, but all of it provides fiber in a healthy diet.

Some of the most nutritious greens include spinach, kale, romaine, watercress, and arugula (see "Salad greens by the numbers"). They are rich in a combination of vitamins A, C, and K; several B vitamins (including folate); and potassium.

Summary Red leaf lettuce has a high water content and low calorie count, making it a great addition to a weight loss diet.

Worst: Iceberg Wedge Salad

It also falls short in the nutrition department. That's because iceberg lettuce contains fewer vitamins and minerals than most dark leafy greens.

If large quantities of lettuce take the place of other nutritious foods, you won't get all your daily nutrients. This type of imbalanced diet will not support your health. While getting more fiber by increasing lettuce intake is healthy, you may experience digestive problems if you overindulge.

Summary. Romaine lettuce can be a healthful part of a balanced diet and can provide even more health benefits if a person eats it regularly. The combination of a low calorie content and high nutritional value make this leafy green an excellent, healthful staple.

Iceberg is about 13 calories per serving while romaine is about 15 calories. However, romaine tends to have more nutrients than its cousin. It contains fiber, folate, iron, potassium, manganese, vitamin A, vitamin c and vitamin K. It also contains calcium, magnesium and several other key vitamins.

Iceberg lettuce – It is the most common lettuce variety, with both a bland flavor and crunchy texture. Burgers and salads both contain this ingredient. As iceberg lettuce contains a lot of water, make sure to blot it dry before adding it to your burger.

The dietary site RealFoodForLife explains that "Romaine lettuce not only has less sugar and sodium" than other greens (in particular iceberg lettuce), but twice the protein and calcium. Romaine clocks in with three times the Vitamin K, four times the iron and eight times the Vitamin C.

What lettuce is easiest to digest?

Answer. Butter lettuce may be easier for some people to digest because it has a low fiber content; however everyone reacts differently to different fruits and vegetables.

1. Spinach. This leafy green tops the chart as one of the most nutrient-dense vegetables. That's because 1 cup (30 grams) of raw spinach provides 16% of the Daily Value (DV) for vitamin A plus 120% of the DV for vitamin K — all for just 7 calories ( 1 ).

The best greens for your guts include kale, spinach, beet greens, mustard greens, dark green leaf lettuce and Romaine lettuce. You can consume them as salads, or opt for the good old' way of steaming or sautéing.

However, when we compare both, green leaf lettuce is healthier than red leaf lettuce. The reason is that green leaf lettuce has a higher content of vitamins like A, C and K. Also, the quantity of micronutrients in green leaf lettuce is much higher than in red leaf lettuce.

1. Spinach. This leafy green tops the chart as one of the most nutrient-dense vegetables. That's because 1 cup (30 grams) of raw spinach provides 16% of the Daily Value (DV) for vitamin A plus 120% of the DV for vitamin K — all for just 7 calories ( 1 ).