With summer upon us, the sun is out, and we all want that summer body. This means for many the humble salad is going to be back on the menu! After all, what better way to get healthy than eating a salad?
Our sister site and partner in sustainable food packaging, Eko Pak, have a range of fantastic options available so you can take your salad with you and keep it fresh with the added bonus of minimising your environmental footprint – a salad that is good for you and good the environment!
Feel like a salad yet? We sure do, here are 7 benefits to eating salad regularly.
7 benefits to eating salad regularly
- Anti-ageing
A healthy salad is rich in antioxidants, folate, vitamins and minerals. Spinach & lettuce mixes, avocado, nuts and seeds are pretty normal staples for most salads and they’re packed with anti-ageing benefits. Salads make it easy to combine superfoods. So, grab your bowl and start mixing and matching – in no time you’ll have an age-defying mix to help boost your health.
- Fibre-rich
Fibre is super important for your body. Science has made links between eating plenty of fibre and lower risks of; heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and even bowel cancer. As an added bonus high fibre foods make us feel fuller for longer and aid with digestion and prevent constipation.
- Packed with nutrition
Similar to our first point, because salads are a mix of fresh roughage and superfoods they’re jam-packed with nutrients. Salad greens contain Vitamin A, vitamin C, beta-carotene, calcium, folate, fibre, and phytonutrients. They’re also low in cholesterol and are naturally low in calories and sodium. All the goodness and none of the bad stuff!
- Weight management
To achieve and maintain a healthy weight, salads are a must. The link between a healthy diet and a healthy weight is well established – the old adage “You are what you eat” is true. Salads tend to be low in calories but are high fibre and nutrient-dense, especially green salads. So, if you want to lose weight or stay trim make sure salad is on the menu.
- Source of healthy fats
Depending on how you make your salad and which ingredients you use, salads can be a great way to introduce healthy fats into your diet. Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are considered healthy fats and they’re super easy to incorporate into your meal. Avocado, flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, fatty fish (salmon etc) and Tofu all make great additions to salad and contain healthy fats.
- Improved muscle performance
Adding some lean protein such as chicken breast or turkey to a salad is a great way to build and repair muscles after a workout. Top off your greens with ingredients high in protein, complex carbohydrates and the right amount of healthy fats. If you build your salad the right way, it will help you to feel fuller longer and to build muscle.
- Antioxidant-rich
Dark leafy greens, vegetables and many other common salad items such as seeds, grains and even fruit are sources of antioxidants – they’re all found in healthy salads. Antioxidants are substances that protect your cells against free radicals, which may play a role in reducing the risk of heart disease, cancer and other diseases.
Features of our Eko Pak Sustainable Bowl
If you’re eating salad and looking after yourself, why not extend that healthful mindset to the planet? Sustainable salads and packaging that are good for you and the environment seem like a match made in heaven. With that in mind, you should consider our fantastic range of Eko Pak bowls.
Made from unbleached sugarcane pulp also known as bagasse and eco-friendly certified home compostable our bowls are fridge, freezer and microwave safe
With our sugar cane bowls and clear dome lid you can take your salads to work; to the beach; or to a friend for a spring BBQ. Check out the Eko Pak range here – https://ekopak.com.au/shop/
