Also indexed as: Boston Lettuce, Limestone Lettuce
Bibb lettuce leaves are soft and tender, so they require a gentle touch
during washing and preparation.
Bibb, also called Boston or limestone lettuce, is considered a choice lettuce variety. The
leaves are soft and buttery in texture and pale green in color, and the heads are small and
round, and the leaves tend to be loosely opened, not tightly overlapping.
Varieties
Bibb lettuce is a variety of butterhead lettuce.
Buying and storing tips
Bibb lettuce can be found in the produce section of most health food stores and some
supermarkets. Look for fresh, green leaves with no sign of wilting or blemishes. Store
refrigerated in a plastic bag for up to three days.
Availability
Bibb lettuce is available all year long, and is at its peak from June to December.
Preparation, uses, and tips
Bibb lettuce leaves are soft and tender, so they require a gentle touch during washing and
preparation. Carefully remove the core, immerse the loose leaves in cold water, drain them,
and pat dry. Toss bibb lettuce leaves with halved cherry
tomatoes and grated carrots, or fill individual
leaves with tuna salad or hummus.
Nutritional Highlights
Bibb lettuce, 1 cup (56g) (shredded)
Calories: 7
Protein: 0.7g
Carbohydrate: 1.3g
Total Fat: 0.12g
Fiber: 0.55g
*Good source of: Folate (40mcg), and Vitamin A (533 IU)
*Foods that are an “excellent source” of a particular
nutrient provide 20% or more of the Recommended Daily Value. Foods that are a “good
source” of a particular nutrient provide between 10 and 20% of the Recommended Daily
Value.
Health benefits and concerns
Cataracts
Some, but not all, studies have reported that eating more foods rich in beta-carotene or vitamin A
was associated with a lower risk of cataracts. Synthetic beta-carotene supplementation has not
been found to reduce the risk of cataract formation. It remains unclear whether natural
beta-carotene from food or supplements would protect the eye or whether beta-carotene in food
is merely a marker for other protective factors in
fruits and vegetables high in
beta-carotene.
High
homocysteine
A controlled trial showed that eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables containing folic acid, beta-carotene, and vitamin C effectively lowered homocysteine levels. Healthy people
were assigned to either a diet containing a pound of fruits and vegetables per day, or to a
diet containing 3 1/2 ounces (99g) of fruits and vegetables per day. After four weeks, those
eating the higher amount of fruits and vegetables had an 11 percent lower homocysteine level
compared to those eating the lower amount of fruits and vegetables.
Health benefits and
concerns for vegetables
Many health benefits and concerns associated with this food are applicable to other
vegetables. Read about health benefits and concerns
for vegetables for a full description.
Copyright © 2004 Healthnotes, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Foodnotes.
The information presented in Foodnotes is for informational
purposes only and was created by a team of U.S. registered dietitians and food experts.
Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using
any supplements, making dietary changes, or before making any changes in prescribed
medications. Information expires March 2005.
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