Midweek Check and a word on lettuce
How does the fiber challege go? Have you managed to introduce more fiber into your diet? Leave a comment below if you want to share some of the changes you've already implemented. And a little bit about lettuce, one of the first choice in fiber which I don't like at all. I am not a fan of the lactuca family (lettuces of all kinds, including iceberg). Why? Well, lettuce has a reputation for being the “healthy default,” but the truth is a bit more nuanced. It’s refreshing, light and easy to eat in big bowls , but nutritionally it's quite different than darker leafy greens. Lettuce is mostly water and very little fuel. Classic lettuces (iceberg, romaine, butterhead) are 95–96% water. That’s why they’re crisp and hydrating , but it also means you get very little per 100 g in terms of fiber, protein, vitamins or minerals. You can eat a huge bowl and still barely move the needle nutritionally. Put lettuce next to spinach, kale or rocket salad and the difference is obvious. Darker greens deliver far more iron, folate, vitamin K, antioxidants and fiber. Lettuce, by contrast, is more of a carrier: it adds crunch, volume and freshness, but not much substance. So, many people go to lettuce to lose weight. BUT....lettuce is one of the crops with the biggest pesticide exposure. And we just swallow these pesticides because we eat it raw and we often eat large portions at once. If you like lettuce, you have to prioritize organic which is expensive and you still get 95% water. That's why I am not a big fan of lettuce.