What part of romaine lettuce can you eat?

Answer 1

This is a lettuce with more green than white leaves. It is oblong shaped and it also can be cooked. It adds a very good flavor in things you would use iceburg lettuce for.

Romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa longifolia) is an annual plant of the Asteraceae family.

Romaine (also known as Cos lettuce) forms an erect, compact rosette of elongated leaves, approaching the character of a head. A white latex oozes from its leaf base and the thicker ribs of older, larger leaves and is reflected in the first part of its Latin name, Lactuca, which means milk. It is relatively tolerant to heat and was developed in a moderately warm climate.

Answer 2

Because of its extremely low calorie content and high water volume, Romaine lettuce is a very nutritious food. It is an excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin K, vitamin C, and folate. In addition, Romaine lettuce is a very good source of fiber, molybdenum, manganese, potassium, and iron. It is also a good source of thiamine, omega-3 essential fatty acids, riboflavin, vitamin B6, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, and copper. It contains substantial protein, niacin, zinc, pantothenic acid, vitamin E, and selenium.

Romaine is especially good for your heart. The vitamin C and beta-carotene work together to prevent the oxidation of cholesterol. When cholesterol becomes oxidized, it becomes sticky and starts to build up on your artery walls, forming plaques. If these plaques become too large, they can block off blood flow or break, causing a clot that triggers a heart attack or stroke. The fiber in Romaine lettuce binds to bile salts in your colon and removes them from your body. This forces your body to make more bile, which is helpful because it must break down cholesterol from your blood to do so, lowering your blood cholesterol levels. Your body uses folate to convert a damaging chemical called homocysteine into other, benign substances. Homocysteine can directly damage blood vessels, greatly increasing your risk of heart attack and stroke. In addition, Romaine lettuce is a very good source of potassium, which can lower high blood pressure, another risk factor for Heart disease.