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.
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]