While iceberg lettuce lacks the nutrient density of spinach, kale, and even Romaine, it’s the lowest in calories. “A microbiome could be designed for the space environment,” Massa suggests, “to help provide a stable, beneficial ecosystem that can outcompete any human or plant pathogens.” But, it’s very early days, Massa warns. There may not be much love for this classic salad staple in health circles, but it’s not as bad as you might think. If you’re going to eat iceberg lettuce, that’s fine—but just avoid tossing it with creamy dressings packed with fat and make sure you’re pairing it with other nutrient-rich foods. For the first time, scientists were able to compare lettuce harvested on the ISS to that harvested on Earth. Microbiological and Nutritional Analysis of Lettuce Crops Grown on the International Space Station, Robots take baby steps to walking like humans. Hundreds of delicious recipes, paired with simple sides, that can be on your table in 45 minutes or less. While the CDC cannot officially warn people to eschew lettuce until the source of the illness has been confirmed, Consumers Union's Jean Halloran said people should err on the side of caution and throw out any lettuce that they have in the fridge, as well as avoid buying any more until further notice. Bestlifeonline.com is part of the Meredith Health Group. Meet the next "life philosophy" trend sweeping the globe. Lettuce grown on the International Space Station (ISS) has similar nutritional and bacterial content to that grown on Earth, researchers have found this week. But here’s the ultimate question—is there a healthier lettuce to use instead of iceberg? Both have a thicker, leafier texture than lettuces like iceberg, Romaine, and bibb. © Copyright 2020 Meredith Corporation. But, in Canada, where 41 of the 58 illnesses were reported, The Public Health Agency has determined romaine lettuce as the source. Potentially. Here’s a breakdown of key nutrients and vitamins in each one (per 100 gram or 3 ½ ounce serving). both of which have even more nutritional value anyway. Are there any benefits to eating iceberg lettuce? Compared to iceberg lettuce, Romaine lettuce contains nearly twice as much Vitamin A and four times the amount of Vitamin K. So, if you’re making a recipe that calls for lettuce—and if it makes sense to substitute in a different variety, you may want to consider doing so. Dr. Fauci warns the public ahead of the holiday. But concierge medicine might be the next-best thing. How do you remove an excessive amount of petroleum jelly from the skin? Is lettuce grown in space as good for you as lettuce grown on Earth? it has a wonderful smell. It is very low in calories, but keep in mind that there are healthier lettuces out there (such as Romaine lettuce) that are relatively similar in calories. You can confidently tell your children that they still have to choke down that brown lettuce because it's perfectly safe to eat (via Berkeley Wellness). Getting your shot is no "walk in the park," they say. Iceberg lettuce has a crisp texture and cooling effect, both of which are good indicators of its higher water content, according to nutritionist Carolyn Williams, PhD, RDN. If you had the power to make your life better in just 30 seconds, would you use it? Here's how to separate the facts from bogus science. Do we need an international certificate of COVID vaccination? Symptoms of kidney failure include extreme fatigue, decreased urination and paleness in the cheeks and under the eyes, and typically appear 7 days after contaminated food. They contain vitamins and minerals and some posess antioxidents. Unfortunately, though, it's best to be avoided for the time being, thanks to a nasty outbreak of E. coli infections. Cooking Light is part of the Allrecipes Food Group. While this shouldn’t take the place of your normal water intake, adding several leaves to your sandwich when it’s hot outside may not be the worst idea. But sometimes a recipe calls for something other than kale or spinach. All Rights Reserved. E-coli can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and severe stomach cramps. At the moment, it's not definite that lettuce is the culprit in the U.S., as the CDC is interviewing people to determine the common denominator of what people ate before getting sick. However, due to its high water content, iceberg lettuce is less nutritionally dense than dark leafy greens like spinach or kale. This makes it great for getting in extra hydration during hot days. Cooking Light may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. It's actually a perfectly healthy food, and if you like the taste, you should include it in your meals. Lettuce grown on the International Space Station (ISS) has similar nutritional and bacterial content to that grown on Earth, researchers have found. To give you a comparison point, kale is only 84% water and spinach is 95%. Now that we've established that romaine lettuce is good for you, it's time to look at how you can maximize the health benefits of romaine. Lettuce is likely one of the first foods you think of when you start to plan a diet to lose weight. Iceberg lettuce often gets a bad rap—while the classic leafy green is a staple in wedge salads, it gets a lot of flak from fiber-conscious kale fans. All Rights Reserved. They contain vitamins and minerals and some posess antioxidents. "Be ashamed, Robert De Niro, be deeply ashamed. Credit: In fact, it doesn’t even come close. It has comparatively fewer nutrients than other greens you may find in salads and other foods. Iceberg lettuce isn’t as bad for you as you may think. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Some call it tasteless, watery, even completely devoid of nutrients. “We are building on this by testing other leafy green crops in space.” says Massa. Live smarter, look better, and live your life to the absolute fullest. 5) Romaine Lettuce: Welp, looks like our go-to lettuce wasn’t the best choice after all. "Even though we can't say with 100 percent certainty that romaine lettuce is the cause of the E. coli outbreak in the U.S., a greater degree of caution is appropriate given that romaine lettuce is almost always consumed raw," James Roger, food safety director at Consumer Reports, told NBC. Diana is a senior editor who writes about sex and relationships, modern dating trends, and health and wellness. The additional microbes found on the space-grown lettuce were not much of a surprise, since the growing conditions on the ISS can’t be as tightly controlled as those on Earth. To discover more amazing secrets about living your best life, click here to sign up for our FREE daily newsletter! But hey, it’s still a damn good “Hopefully we can add things like small fruits - peppers and tomatoes - in the next couple of years to the space diet.”. Information presented on this website is the opinion of the individual contributors and does not reflect the general views of the administrators, editors, moderators, sponsors, Cambridge University or the public at large. The strain of E-coli in this lettuce is particularly dangerous, however, as it can cause kidney failure. Iceberg lettuce is lower in calories per serving, but it doesn’t deliver nearly as powerful of a dose of nutrients as spinach or kale. But why? Despite these conditions, the similarity of the nutritional content in the lettuces was a surprise for the researchers. Okay, so you didn't marry a doctor. "If so, and people aren't warned, more may get sick.". Unfortunately, though, it's best to be avoided for the This makes it great for getting in extra hydration during hot days. Is lettuce grown in space as good for you as lettuce grown on Earth? ©The Naked Scientists® 2000–2020 | The Naked Scientists® and Naked Science® are registered trademarks created by Dr Chris Smith. Dinner Tonight: Quick and Healthy Menus in 45 Minutes (or Less). Where would a bullet fired in space end up? Romaine, green-leaf and red-leaf lettuce are all good choices if you are on a weight-loss diet, and you do not need to stick to Understanding the bacterial and fungal population that naturally arises on the lettuces may be the first step in trying to control that microbiome to encourage future growth. ", © 2020 Galvanized Media. How does the nutrition of iceberg lettuce compare to other lettuces like Romaine, bibb, or green leaf? Is iceberg lettuce really that bad for you? “There tends to be a higher level of microorganisms in that environment.”.