Low Calorie Salads Benefit Health
Salads are considered a balanced nutritious meal served worldwide for the convenience it provides. In the United States, most people fail to meet recommended dietary guidelines for not eating enough vegetables daily. Federal guidelines recommend that adults eat 1 ½ to 2 servings of fruit per day and 2-3 cups of a variety of dark green and brightly colored vegetables as part of healthy eating patterns. The prevalence of obesity was 39.8% affecting 93 million US adults leading to estimated medical costs of 147 billion dollars to consumers. Eating a vast array of fresh vegetables each day has enormous benefits for the body with providing essential minerals and vitamins high in antioxidants that protect your cells from oxidative damage. Leading causes of death in the United States are from largely preventable chronic disease due to poor nutrition. Individuals who consume plenty of fresh vegetables are less likely to develop chronic health conditions including diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.
Make a fresh salad using a wide variety of dark and colorful vegetables washed, then spun dried to remove excess water. Layer your salad on a plate topped with green leafy vegetables of choice, lettuce, spinach, broccoli, kale as a base for fresh salads packed with nutrition. Top the salad with brightly colored vegetables including red peppers, shredded carrots, tomatoes high in vitamin A, beta carotene vitamin C, fiber, manganese. Consuming a balanced diet rich in lean proteins, fruits, and salad vegetables may help reduce the risks associated with diseases including obesity. Dark green vegetables in salads ensure beautiful hair and skin loaded with antioxidants zeaxanthin, vitamin C, lutein high in flavonoids known to protect the body from disease.
Beware healthy salad mix can pack on the pounds if you add too many high calorie dressings, fried croutons, cheese, and side desserts without realizing it. You are in control of the ingredients in your salad. Eliminating or greatly reducing the amount of dressing consumed may save hundreds of calories per serving. Make your salad starting off with a vast abundance of fresh leafy greens. Combined the salad with brightly colored vegetables topped with lean proteins topped off with 1-2 tablespoons of toasted nuts for crunch appeal. Salad dressing on the side helps you control the amount of dressing consumed dipping portions of your salad in the dressing eating nutritious foods. Lose weight-consuming delicious fresh salads high in nutrition.
Proteins complement many salads providing the body with the building blocks to build bone, blood, repair muscle tissue, cartilage, skin. Salads are a fantastic way to eat raw foods containing enzymes that boost digestion ultimately fighting chronic disease. Lean protein is essential for regulating hormones and enzymes used in digestion along with other bodily chemicals helping you lose weight by eating well. Proteins used in fresh salads may include roasted chicken, beef, fish, hard boiled eggs, beans, nuts, and seeds depending on dietary preferences. Enjoy eating a salad for lunch or dinner as a low-calorie balanced meal suited for weight loss while improving health, boosting endurance and wellbeing.
Cheers!
Patricia Lynn
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