Eat Salads, for a Bowl Full of health

By siliconindia   |   Wednesday, 27 July 2011, 22:19 IST
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Eat Salads, for a Bowl Full of health
Bangalore: Most of what we eat today is either original recipes or adaptations of. Be it a cake, or chicken soup or vegetable gravy, chances are, that the recipe was handed down to me by my mother, who in turn got it from hers, and so on. Other than adjusting spices or measurement, these recipes leave little room for imagination. But the salad, well, it's different. Take the joy of putting many diverse ingredients together; the surprise and mystery of the rich taste, the rich moistness of the dressing, the flavours of the season, and you will come close to understanding the joys of salad making. The wondrous part of this aspect of food making is that you don't need to be a certified chef or a good cook, not even an average or an ok cook. All you need is some imagination, some fresh seasonal vegetables, fruits, meat or fish and some tasty dressing, that is available in a myriad of flavours. Put them together, toss them and then simply let the flavours slowly overwhelm your senses. Other than its culinary taste and simplicity, the ubiquitous salad offers many health benefits to the modern day individual. As the name itself suggests, it is a healthy mixture or concoction of freshness, nutrients and good health. In the times, where lives are simply paced too fast and other pursuits of healthy eating and good health and relegated to the back, salads are one of the simplest and healthiest food habits that anyone can commit to. Easy to make and tasty to eat, they bring us a few steps closer to our suggested dietary allowance of fruits and vegetables. By adding your own choice of vegetables, you can have a nutritious and a quick meal at any time of the day, whether at home or even in your office. Salads increase our daily intake of good fibre which results in better management of cholesterol and constipation. It is also recommended for healthy weight loss, contributing to necessary nutrition, fullness and low glycemic index of your entire meal. Since salads are very filling, eating one prior to your main course will reduce the number of calories you end up consuming. In a new study, researchers at UCLA and Louisiana State University say its fine to go ahead and indulge at the salad bar because "rabbit food" is nutritious for people too. Comprising dietary data on more than 17,500 men and women, the study finds consumption of salad and raw vegetables correlates proportionately with higher concentrations of folic acid, vitamins C and E, lycopene and alpha and beta carotene in the bloodstream. Published in the September edition of the peer-reviewed Journal of the American Dietetic Association, the study also suggests that each serving of salad consumed correlates with a 165 percent higher likelihood of meeting recommended dietary allowances (RDA) for vitamin C in women and 119 percent greater likelihood in men. Another important part of salads is the dressing. While you can eat your salad without any dressing, adding some would not only make it taste better, but would allow for the nutrients in the salad to be absorbed better by your body. Salads are also great conversation starters and ice breakers when you throwing a party. All you need is some exotic ingredients, a salacious dip and voila, there you go. Or fashion it as a game with your loved one' a blindfold, fresh salad sprinkled with diverse ingredients - some sweet, some salty or simply some spicy, and play a game of sensuous tasting with blindfolds and your fingers. It does not matter whether you are a vegetarian, eggetarian or a carnivore; whether you eat it as a health food, filler, a full meal or as a game; there are salads to meet your every need. Just hustle them fresh from your grocer or chilled from your fridge, add some delicious dressing, sit back and close your eyes and let the transport you to a land with no stress, no worries, simple wholesome sense of well being and happiness. (Author: Mrs. Geeta Bectos, Mrs. Bector's Foods specialities)