Today the final ingredient we find in the Spring Mix bag is Radicchio.
Radicchio (Fresh Express Spring Mix, Trader Joe’s Spring Mix)
Radicchio (pronounced ra-dee-kyoh) is a leaf chicory sometimes known as Italian chicory and is a perennial. It is grown as a leaf vegetable which usually has white-veined red leaves. It has a bitter and spicy taste, which mellows when it is grilled or roasted.
Its wine-red succulent, bitter flavored leaves holds several unique compounds like lactucopicrin (intybin), zeaxanthin, vitamin K and several other vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
The bitter principle in the radicchio is lactucopicrin, has been found to be a potent anti-malarial agent and has sedative and analgesic (painkiller) effect.
The leaves are an excellent source of phenolic flavonoid antioxidants such as zeaxanthin and lutein. 100 g leaves provide 8832 µg of these pigments. It contains some essential B-complex groups of vitamins such as folic acid, pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5), pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) and thiamin (Vitamin B1), niacin (B3). These vitamins are essential as the body requires them from external sources to replenish and required for fat, protein and carbohydrates metabolism.
Fresh radicchio is one of the excellent sources of vitamin K. 100 g provides about 255.2 µg or 212% of daily-recommended values. Vitamin K has potential role in bone health by promoting osteotrophic (bone formation and strengthening) activity. Further, adequate vitamin-K levels in the diet helps limiting neuronal damage in the brain; thus, has an established role in the treatment of patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
It is also good source of minerals like manganese, copper, iron, zinc, and potassium. Manganese is a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase.
| Carbohydrates | 4.48 g | 3.5% |
| Protein | 1.43 g | 3% |
| Total Fat | 0.25 g | 1% |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.9 g | 2% |
Trader Joe’s has a lettuce package that has lots of radicchio. Slightly bitter but mixes well with other greens.
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