Radicchio Nutrition

Radicchio is a red leafy vegetable, that is said to be native to Italy. It is slightly bitter and spicy in taste and is mainly used in salads. It can also be grilled, sauteed or roasted, so as to reduce its bitterness. Radicchio is a leaf chicory, which has red leaves with white veins. It is also known as red chicory or Italian chicory. While some types of chicory plants are cultivated for their leaves that are used as vegetable, some others are grown for roots, that are baked and ground, so as to be used as a coffee substitute. There are many varieties (almost 19) of radicchio and most of them are named after the different regions in Italy, from where, they originated. The most commonly available among them is radicchio di Chioggia. Others include radicchio di Treviso, radicchio di Castelfranco, Tardivo and Gorizia. It was during the 1980s, that this vegetable became popular in the U.S. Apart from adding color and flavor to dishes, radicchio is also highly nutritious.

Radicchio Nutritional Information

Radicchio is a rich source of dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals. It has high levels of antioxidants and studies show that the antioxidant content in radicchio is higher than that of spinach and blueberries. It is low in calories and is free of fats and cholesterol. 100 grams of raw radicchio contains 4.5 grams of carbohydrates, one gram sugar, one gram dietary fiber, 1.5 grams protein and amounts to 23 calories.

Nutrient	Value
Vitamin A	27 IU
Vitamin C	8 mg
Vitamin E	2.3 mg
Folic acid	60 mcg
Vitamin K	255 mcg
Calcium	19 mg
Potassium	302 mg
Phosphorus	40 mg
Magnesium	13 mg
Selenium	0.9 mcg

You may include this leafy vegetable in your diet and reap the benefits offered by it. Radicchio salad is one of the popular and common way of consuming it. You can either buy fresh radicchio from the market or else, grow them in your garden during the spring or fall. Consume those radicchios, that are not bruised or wilted. It tastes great with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, honey, lemon, bacon, garlic, anchovies, butter and cheese. If you are averse to the flavor of this vegetable, you may use Belgian endive as a radicchio substitute in recipes that call for radicchio.

Radicchio has been used by humans for a very long time. In fact, this vegetable is said to possess several health benefits, due to the high antioxidant levels in it. It was used as a blood purifier and liver tonic in some regions of the world. It is also said that ancient people used radicchio to treat insomnia. However, modern-day radicchio was developed during the latter part of the nineteenth century. Being rich in nutrients and other beneficial compounds, radicchio is considered as a healthy leafy vegetable. If you like the flavor of this vegetable, you may consume it raw, otherwise, grill, roast or saute them, so as to mellow its slight bitterness.