Health
Lettuce health benefits may include:
- anemia treatment and prevention
- anxiety relief
- brain function
- fight depression
- hydration
- improved vision
- prevent insomnia
- reduced inflammation
- strengthened nervous system
- stress reduction
- treat arthritis
- Alzheimer’s prevention
- bone strengthening
- boosted immunity
- cardiovascular health
- detoxification
- diabetes management and prevention
- fight and prevent cancer
- liver function
- lower high blood pressure
- lower high cholesterol levels
- reduced risk of heart disease
- acne treatment
- healthy hair and skin
- muscle development
- weight loss
Lettuce is…
- Alkaline 8.5 pH level once digested
- Gluten Free
- Not a common Food Allergen
Environment
Water footprint: low, it takes 237 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of lettuce / 28 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of lettuce
Carbon footprint: low, 0.92 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of romaine lettuce, a car driving equivalent of 2.5 miles or 3.5 kilometers
Destruction: low, lettuce production is relatively sustainable, there is no known significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, etc. as long as pesticides have not been used, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc.
Lettuce is…
- Sustainable
Get ethical insight before you buy.
Animals
Kills: none, lettuce production does not require any animals to be killed
Harms: none, lettuce production does not require any animals to be used
Indirectly kills or harms: none, no animals are indirectly killed or harmed from lettuce production as long as toxic chemicals have not been used, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as pesticides harm and kill wildlife and ecosystems by contaminating soil, water, air and plants that animals eat
Lettuce is…
- Vegan
- Harmful to wildlife and ecosystems unless organic
Laborers
Health and safety: varies, overall, agriculture continues to be one of the most dangerous industries, farmworkers may be subject to dehydration, heat stroke, unprotected exposure to harmful, toxic chemicals and pesticides, unsafe machinery and clean drinking water may not always accessible
Living conditions: varies, laborers are often exploited, they may face tough working conditions including long hours in the sun and heat performing physically exhausting tasks, labor laws and rights may or may not be in place, even if worker protection exists, employer violations may go unreported, refugees and migrant workers are especially vulnerable to abuse and mistreatment, fearing consequences of job loss or deportation
Wages: varies, generally farmworkers earn meager wages, there are many cases of underpaid agricultural workers, wage theft and no overtime payment or benefits
Lettuce…
- May have labor issues
Where does most lettuce come from?
The world’s top lettuce producing country is China, followed by the USA and India. The world’s top lettuce exporting country is USA, followed by Spain, Mexico, Italy, Netherlands, France, Germany, Canada, Belgium and UK. In the United States, California and Arizona dominate lettuce production.
Is lettuce nutritious?
Yes! Lettuce is high in minerals like calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, and potassium and is packed with vitamin C, vitamin K and folate.
lettuce is alkaline.
Is lettuce alkaline or acidic? Lettuce is alkaline. What is the pH level of lettuce? Lettuce has an 8.5 pH level when fresh once digested. Most leafy greens are alkaline foods.
When you eat food, it breaks down to an ash residue that can be neutral, acidic or alkaline. Minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, silver, copper and iron produce an alkaline ash; whereas sulfur, phosphorus, chlorine and iodine, which are in meat, coffee, dairy and alcohol, leave an acid ash.
Going alkaline easier than ever with this: Acidic and Alkaline Foods List
lettuce is gluten free.
Is lettuce gluten free? Yes, lettuce is gluten free. Lettuce does not contain gluten. Lettuce is a type of vegetable, therefore making it a naturally gluten free food.
Celiac and gluten sensitivity symptoms are similar and may include:
- recurring abdominal pain
- chronic diarrhea
- constipation
- tingling
- numbness in hands and feet
- chronic fatigue
- joint pain
- unexplained infertility
- low bone density (osteopenia or osteoporosis)
There are hundreds of potential symptoms, many of which are also symptoms of other conditions.
Going gluten-free easier than ever with this: Gluten and Gluten Free Foods List
lettuce is not a common food allergen.
Is lettuce a common food allergen? No, lettuce is not a common food allergen. Some people may experience allergic reactions to lettuce but it is relatively rare by comparison.
A group of the eight major allergenic foods, AKA the Big-8, include:
Severe food allergies can be life threatening. Following ingestion of a food allergen, a person with food allergies can experience a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.
Persons may still be allergic to and have serious reactions to foods other than the eight foods identified by the law.
Be aware of common dietary restrictions and food allergens with this: The Big 8 Most Common Food Allergens List
lettuce has a low water footprint.
Does lettuce have a high or low water footprint? Lettuce has a relatively low water footprint compared to other foods.
What is the water footprint of lettuce? It takes 237 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of lettuce / 28 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of lettuce.
Did you know that water is a finite, non-renewable resource? Once it’s gone, it’s gone!
How much water does it take to produce an apple? A serving of rice? A steak dinner?
We need to be aware of something referred to as a “water footprint”. That is, the amount of fresh water utilized in the production or supply of goods we consume. As it turns out it takes significantly more water to yield foods that come from animals than foods that come from plants. Imagine how much water a cow needs to consume to generate a piece of beef. Not only how much water a single cow drinks, rather all the water that went into producing the crops that the cow ate.
Find out how much water your food consumes with this: Water Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
lettuce has a low carbon footprint.
Does lettuce have a high or low carbon footprint? Lettuce has a relatively low carbon footprint compared to other foods.
What is the carbon footprint of lettuce? It takes around 0.92 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of romaine lettuce, a car driving equivalent of 2.5 miles or 3.5 kilometers.
When calculating carbon emissions, some factors may include…
- farm equipment
- animal feed production
- hothouses (greenhouses)
- food processing
- packaging
- transport
- refrigeration
- freezing
- package waste and more
But that’s not all!
It’s best to keep the following in mind when grocery shopping:
- shopping locally reduces transportation emissions
- food without packaging reduces waste as well as the carbon footprint
- refrigerated and frozen foods increase carbon emissions
- seasonal foods reduce carbon emissions from hothouses (greenhouses)
- growing plant-based foods at home is the most environmentally sustainable method with zero carbon footprint
Find out how much carbon your food emits with this: Carbon Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
lettuce is sustainable.
Overall, is lettuce eco friendly? Is lettuce sustainable?
Lettuce production is relatively sustainable since there is no known significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, etc. as long as pesticides have not been used. Be sure to buy non GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc. when using regenerative practices.
A 2018 Oxford University study – which is the most comprehensive analysis to date of the damage farming does to the planet – found that ‘avoiding meat and dairy is the single biggest way to reduce your impact on Earth’ as animal farming provides just 18% of calories but takes up 83% of our farmland.
Consuming animal products and byproducts is not environmentally friendly and is one of the worst things for the Earth. Not only is meat production wasteful, it causes enormous amounts of pollution. The industry is one of the biggest causes of climate change.
lettuce is vegan.
Is lettuce vegan? Yes, lettuce is vegan. Lettuce is a vegetable and not an animal product or byproduct, therefore making it a vegan food.
Animals of factory farming are suffering. They live in horrific conditions that often include confinement, physical abuse and unnatural environments…so much so that they need to receive antibiotics to keep from getting ill or spreading disease. Growth hormones allow all kinds of animals to become fatter faster and live short lives.
Because we cannot see for ourselves how these animals live and what they endure does not mean it isn’t happening. The meat, poultry and dairy industries do everything they can to distance us from knowing how our food comes to be in order to keep us in the dark about what we support each time we buy animal derived products and byproducts.
Go vegan for animals!
It’s the best way to help animals and it’s not as difficult as you may think. Speak for animals with your actions, for they cannot speak at all.
Going vegan is easier than ever, at a glance with this: Vegan and Non-Vegan Foods List
lettuce may or may not have labor issues.
Is lettuce a product with labor concerns?
At this time there are no major concerns with lettuce production but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening!
It’s important to stay aware of human rights concerns and worker exploitation that come with specific brands.
Did you know the single largest employer in the world is agriculture? The labor involved behind each and every product cannot go unrecognized.
Some known problems include workplace health and safety, child labor, gender inequality, inadequate pay, wage theft and exploitation. Workers can even experience harassment, humiliation and violence and unfair employers often fail to provide laborers with access to shade, drinking water, restrooms and breaks. Consequently, laborers can face nausea, dizziness, heat exhaustion, dehydration and heat stroke -the leading cause of farmworker death!
Such mistreatment is like modern day slavery. Workers are often afraid to report issues because they fear it will result in losing their jobs or deportation.
Fair trade organizations fight to ensure better social, environmental and economic standards.
We can improve people’s lives with foods we eat every day simply by buying products that are certified fair trade.
Sources:
Lettuce, cos or romaine, raw – FoodData Central – USDA
Lettuce Grades and Standards | Agricultural Marketing Service
Nutrition Education – SNAP-Ed Connection – USDA
Adriane Marie
As an educator, author and conscious consumer advocate, I study and organize ethical info for you to quickly see how our purchases impact animals, people and the planet. I hope you find this HEALabel knowledge useful and can apply it to your life for personal and societal improvement and empowerment.Get ethical insight before you buy.