The Absolute Easiest (and Most Delicious) Way to Eat More Foods with Fiber

Are you looking to add more fiber to your diet? Now that summer is in full swing, foods with fiber —specifically fresh fruits and veggies — are readily available. So take advantage of that and improve your health (and menu) along the way.

Despite an association with unwelcome trips to the restroom, foods with fiber are no joke. A high-fiber diet not only benefits your bowel, it can also reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and hypertension.

Salads are also a great way to get both your daily intake of SuperNutrients and fiber. And, if prepared properly, they can also be low in calories.

When you combine a variety of veggies and fruits together in a salad, you’ll get the synergistic benefits of all those SuperNutrients working together. This can help make your body its healthiest.

According to the latest research, if you eat a salad as a first course you will most likely eat fewer calories during the entire meal and you will feel more satisfied. One study, involving 17,000 people, found that those who ate the most salads had above-median blood levels of folic acid, vitamins C and E, lycopene and alpha- and beta-carotene. That’s all good stuff.

Fresh salad recipes are especially simple these days. Products from companies like Fresh Express, which are sold in most grocery stores, offer a great selection of ready-made salads that can act as the base. It’s as easy as putting a couple of cups of greens in a bowl with either some chopped broccoli, grated carrots, cherry tomatoes and a few slices of cucumber. Or, if you prefer, add some fresh peas, grapes, sliced strawberries, edamame, or a handful of your favorite herbs. You’re only limited by your imagination.

Sources

UCLA Fielding School of Public Heath
American Heart Association