Which Is Better Lettuce Or Cabbage
Edward R. Forte
January 25, 2022
Cabbage
Though green cabbage and iceberg lettuce may look alike, they have completely different nutritional profiles.They may look similar, but green cabbage is higher in fiber and most vitamins and minerals than iceberg lettuce.That said, including either cabbage or various forms of leafy green lettuce in your diet can significantly boost your fiber intake.Fiber — plant material that you can’t digest — helps keep your bowel movements regular and feeds the beneficial bacteria in your gut ( 4 ).Additionally, eating a high-fiber diet can help you lose excess body fat and maintain a healthy weight.Fiber slows digestion, which may increase feelings of fullness after meals, leading to reduced food intake ( 5 ).A review of 3 studies including over 133,000 participants looked at how fiber intake affected body weight over 4 years.It found that people with the highest intake of fiber-rich fruits and vegetables lost significantly more weight than those who ate less fiber-rich produce ( 6 ).Plus, eating fiber may help regulate blood sugar, improve heart health, and enhance immune function ( 7 ).Incorporating vitamin-, mineral-, and antioxidant-rich foods into your diet can help reduce your risk of many chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart and neurodegenerative diseases ( 11 , 12 , 13 ).For example, green cabbage has a more complex, peppery flavor and a crunchier texture than iceberg lettuce, which has a somewhat bland, watery taste.Raw cabbage can also be combined with mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, and other ingredients to make coleslaw, a popular side dish for barbecues and picnics.For example, raw cabbage can be made into a salad, but lettuce varieties such as iceberg are usually preferred in these types of dishes due to their milder flavor and lighter crunch. .
Cabbage vs Lettuce: What Is the Difference?
However, when it comes to nutrition, taste, appearance, and how to grow it, lettuce and cabbage are actually extremely different.Cabbage also has over twice of the dietary fiber that lettuce has, which makes it a good substitute in a salad.Cabbage and lettuce are both green vegetables that have many layers of leaves.Cabbage is made up of a short stem and a head that forms a bulb-type shape.Although it is usually thought of as having a green color, there are also red and purple variations of cabbage.Lettuce, on the other hand, needs to be grown in sandy soil with a pH of somewhere between 6 and 7.Lettuce, like cabbage, also needs to be kept generally moist, because its leaves will begin to wilt if it is not kept watered.In conclusion, lettuce and cabbage may look similar at times, but they are very different. .
Cabbage Vs. Lettuce: Important Differences You Need To Know
Richard W. VanVranken, of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension in Atlantic City, NJ notes that there are many types of lettuces and cabbages.Butterhead – round, but the leaves are looser and have a smoother texture (Boston, butter, bibb).Crisphead – round head is composed of tightly packed leaves (iceberg).Looseleaf – loosely gathered, growing as a rosette, enabling the grower to just remove the leaves rather than harvest the entire plant (oak-leaf).VanVranken says, “Both have lots of phytonutrients, but cabbages have a little more fiber and a higher content of major vitamins and minerals than lettuces.”.He says living lettuces are better able to hold onto their vitamin and mineral counts since the roots maintain freshness longer.In Chez Panisse Vegetables she wrote that her most cherished goal was to offer guests a plain garden salad tossed with a simple oil and vinegar dressing.“Cooked-well, cabbage has a wonderful texture and lots of spicy, sweet flavor,” write Alice Waters in Chez Panisse Vegetables.Waters suggests that cabbage’s availability in winter when fewer vegetables can be found and its ability to be grown almost anywhere gives it a reputation as a coarse, commonplace food.When eaten raw, cabbage has a sweet, spicy flavor and crunchy texture.Good Mood Kitchen Cookbook author Leslie Korn, notes that cabbage’s thicker, crunchier texture and stronger flavor are a result of fiber and sulfur compounds in the leaves.Korn notes that the gas caused by eating detoxifying sulfur-rich cabbage is normal and actually a sign of good health; nourishing those incessantly hungry “psychobiotic” bacteria makes your brain happy and relaxed.Look for cabbages that are tight, firm, and heavy for their type Look for cabbages with shiny crisp outer leaves Remove loose or wilted leaves Rinse in water to remove any dirt Refrigerate.In terms of growing, VanVranken notes that lettuce requires cooler temperatures to mature than cabbage.As a result, local production seasons for lettuce come a little bit earlier in the spring and later in the fall.Chef Marcus Mueller notes that lettuce is very quick-growing and does best in loose, sandy conditions.Therefore, it is important to keep lettuce rows well-watered and protected from the sun either by a high growing plant such as cucumbers or covering with a cloth-like mesh.Lettuce grows fastest in warm weather but tolerates cool temperatures quite well, especially if grown in a cold frame or greenhouse.Mueller notes that cabbage can be grown in almost any type of soil, as long as it is not too acidic.It does best in cool weather, yet requires a fair amount of sunshine and therefore is usually grown as a late summer and fall crop.Cabbage is a heavy feeder and requires a good amount of fertilizer and water to do well.People think of bland and watery iceberg lettuce, but in fact, salads are an art form, from the simplest rendition to a colorful kitchen-sink approach.” We couldn’t agree more.
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Cabbage vs Romaine Lettuce: What is the difference?
It is primarily important in maintaining healthy vision and the development of bones, soft tissues and skin.It works closely with folate (vitamin B9) in the production of red blood cells and the processing of iron. .
The Healthiest Types of Lettuce and Leafy Greens — Eat This Not That
To determine the most nutritious greens, we looked at a Centers for Disease Control report that ranked 47 "powerhouse fruits and vegetables" according to nutrient density.These powerhouse lettuce types had to meet two qualifications: they're the foods most strongly associated with reduced chronic disease risk and one 100-calorie serving had to contain 10% or more daily value of 17 qualifying nutrients.While great on burgers, this lettuce is mostly made up of water and should be reserved to add a signature crunch to dishes—never the star of the show.Cabbage is considered a type of lettuce, but it's also part of the cruciferous family, which contains potent compounds that have been linked to reducing the risk of cancer.While not necessarily the most nutritious, it's the perfect base for quinoa and cranberry salads, paired with shaved parmesan and champagne vinegar dressing, and layered with fresh citrus.They're a natural diuretic, have a higher calcium content than kale, and are loaded with iron and vitamin K. With their bitter taste profile, balance them out with neutral greens like spinach or romaine.A study published in the journal Nutrition Research compared the effectiveness of the prescription drug Cholestyramine to steamed collards.It's so packed with nutrients that even that one sprig can go a long way toward meeting your daily requirement for vitamin K.
Moreover, research suggests the summer-y aroma and flavor of chopped parsley may help control your appetite.A study in the journal Flavour found participants ate significantly less of a dish that smelled strongly of spice than a mildly scented version of the same food.The nutritional Clark Kent of the salad bar, this common and unsuspecting leafy green is ready to take its place among the superfoods for weight loss.Two generous cups of lettuce provide 100 percent of your daily vitamin K requirement for strong, healthy bones.Even more so than its cousin kale, the humble Romaine lettuce packs high levels of folic acid, a water-soluble form of Vitamin B that's proven to boost male fertility.A study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility found supplemental folic acid to significantly increase sperm counts.Chicory is a family of bitter greens, but its most well-known member is radicchio, the small red or purple leaf that comes in a head about the size of a softball.According to the United States Department of Agriculture, a 180-gram serving of boiled spinach provides 6.43 milligrams of iron, the muscle mineral—that's more than a 6-ounce hamburger patty!Recent research also suggests compounds in the leaf membranes called thylakoids may serve as a powerful appetite suppressant.A long-term study at Lund University in Sweden found that having a drink containing thylakoids before breakfast could significantly reduce hunger (by 95 percent!).Yes, the stuff they cut off and throw in the garbage before charging you an arm and a leg for "beet salad" is actually one of the best leafy greens.Researchers at the University of Leeds found that risk of cardiovascular disease was significantly lower for every 7 grams of fiber consumed.Recent research has shown that these leafy greens contain at least 13 different polyphenol antioxidants, including anthocyanins—anti-inflammatory compounds that could offer protection from type 2 diabetes.Rich sources of highly available calcium and iron, cruciferous vegetables like the cabbage have the powerful ability to "turn off" inflammation markers thought to promote heart disease.The healthy green is also the richest dietary source of PEITC (phenylethyl isothiocyanate), which research suggests can fight cancer.Results from an eight-week trial published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggest daily supplementation of 85 grams of raw watercress (that's about two cups) could reduce DNA damage linked to cancer by 17 percent. .
Everyday Cabbage Salad
Pairs brilliantly with light dishes like fish and seafood, as well as as rich hearty meals like roasts and stews.Keeping this post short and sweet because it’s an extra recipe I’m publishing today alongside the Brown Sugar Garlic Butter Pork Roast!The dressing is a bit tangy (not sharp) with a touch of sweet, and it’s neutral enough to serve alongside almost any main, any Cuisine.Give it a bit of time to wilt, just like Coleslaw – the cabbage will sag and the salad becomes nice and juicy.A touch of green onion wouldn’t go astray either, but there’s enough tang in the dressing such that it’s not required.Serve it with everything from Schnitzel to Pan Fried Fish, Meatloaf to Baked Chicken Breasts.Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.Everyday Cabbage Salad Author: Nagi Prep: 10 mins 5 from 15 votes Servings 4 Tap or hover to scale Print.Chop the cabbage and keep in the fridge with the dressing in a jar, lasts for up to a week!▢ 1/2 tsp salt Instructions Shake Dressing ingredients in a jar.Storage / make ahead - I like to keep the chopped cabbage and dressing in the fridge, ready to use as required.I like to keep the chopped cabbage and dressing in the fridge, ready to use as required.1 tsp grated ginger and 1 minced garlic clove would be a bonus.1 tsp grated ginger and 1 minced garlic clove would be a bonus.When it is starting to turn golden, add 1 tsp of cumin seeds.When it is starting to turn golden, add 1 tsp of cumin seeds. .
Asian Cabbage Salad with Peanut Dressing – WellPlated.com
This Asian Cabbage Salad with peanut dressing is light and bright, filling, and has been adding a burst of life to my lunch routine.It’s got crunch and zip and layers of texture from ingredients like red bell peppers, edamame, and almonds.In addition to its long shelf life, cabbage is high in fiber, antioxidants, and Vitamin-C.It’s the crunch at the heart of this healthy Asian cabbage salad with almonds.If you’ve never tried a raw cabbage salad before, this recipe is an excellent gateway.I love to keep a bag of shelled edamame in my freezer for adding to stir fries and salads.I love to keep a bag of shelled edamame in my freezer for adding to stir fries and salads.You could also swap peanuts (which are fabulous in Asian Cucumber Salad), or try a blend of almonds and sunflower seeds.You could also swap peanuts (which are fabulous in Asian Cucumber Salad), or try a blend of almonds and sunflower seeds.It takes just minutes to stir together and makes this salad totally addictive.Toss, and continue to add more dressing until you’ve reached your desired amount.Start by cutting the cabbage heads in half from top to bottom, slicing down through the stem.Turn the pieces so a flat side is on the cutting board, and slice them as thinly as possible, working your way across each quarter.Personally, for my raw cabbage salads, I like to roughly chop it into smaller pieces (pictured above), which I find a little easier to eat.You can also prepare your dressing up to 1 day in advance, and store it in a separate container in the refrigerator.You can also prepare your dressing up to 1 day in advance, and store it in a separate container in the refrigerator.Place cabbage salad in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator.I like to keep a little leftover extra dressing on the side no matter what to liven up each serving.When cutting large items like cabbage, it’s important to have a high-quality chef’s knife.I smiled every time I opened our refrigerator and found a container of crunchy Asian cabbage salad beaming back at me.This recipe yields a large quantity, but since it lasts for several days in the refrigerator even after the ginger peanut dressing is added, I had no problem polishing it off. .