Why You're Doing Salad Wrong (And Six Ways to Make It Right)

If I told you to close your eyes and imagine a dinner salad, what would you see? If you're like many of my patients, "salad" brings up thoughts of dieting, deprivation, and yes -- boredom. Truth is, if you're doing salad the right way, it can actually become a staple you look upon as delicious nutrition. Here's how to do salad right! Throw out those reduced fat dressings You may think you're doing yourself a favor by selecting a reduced-fat version of your favorite salad dressing, but you're not. The majority of food products which claim "reduced fat" or "fat free" compensate by adding sugar. This lowers the total calories of the product (since sugar has less calories per gram than fat does) while still giving you the taste you yearn for (sweet). That's all well and good from a marketing perspective but your pancreas and liver aren't too fond of that choice. That's because your consumption of sugar (instead of fat) increases the production of insulin - a fat storing hormone, making you more likely to gain weight, not lose. Sugar also may increases your risk for a whole host of chronic conditions, including breast cancer, according to a 2016 study. On the flip side, fat fills you up, helps you feel satisfied, and assists with the absorption of fat soluble vitamins (A,E, D & K), which are prevalent in colorful salads. In fact, both protein and fat help control and regulate insulin levels by decreasing the risk of the rise and fall of glucose levels in your bloodstream. ...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news