Many people ask the question – is lettuce a vegetable? – and fortunately, there is a very simple answer to this question.
Is Lettuce a Vegetable or Fruit?
Lettuce is a vegetable because it is an edible plant part, and does not develop from an ovary, which is the technical definition of a fruit. Every vegetable comes from the root, stem, bulb, leaves, tubers, and flowers of a plant. Given lettuce’s leafy nature, it is quite easily classified as a vegetable. [1]
Lettuce doesn’t come in only one form, however, so some people wonder if romaine lettuce is a vegetable as well. Similarly, since it is a leafy part of the plant, it is considered a vegetable. Considering its status as a vegetable, one could expect it to deliver some health benefits, and it certainly does.
Fresh lettuce for your salads Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Studies have shown that consuming lettuce is an excellent way to aid weight loss efforts, and it can also reduce inflammation and blood pressure levels. Lettuce also contains a high level of water, so it can help to rehydrate the body and improve the efficiency of many different bodily processes. [2]
