Are Plain Vegetables Better?
By Sara Butler
Over the years, a lot of people have been led to believe if you want to eat healthily, then you must eat plain things. Adding butter and cheese on top of things turns an otherwise healthy food option into junk -- or does it? Not many people can go to town and mow down on a plain bowl of microgreens. A healthy diet must be realistic if you have any hope of changing your lifestyle into a healthy one. When it comes to salads, which are great to incorporate into a healthy diet, you have to take charge in order to make them palatable without going overboard.
Healthy Fats
Many people shy away from pairing their salads or other vegetables with cheese, dressings, and other fats because fat has a bad reputation. But your body needs healthy fats to work as it should and for you to feel satisfied when eating.
When you add in the fact that certain antioxidants and vitamins that contribute to good health need a little fat in order for your body to absorb them properly, that puts a new spin on things. Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and beta-carotene all need fat in order to be absorbed properly. Fat also helps you transport Vitamin D, Vitamin K, Vitamin E, and Vitamin A more efficiently in your body.
You Need to Feel It
It’s not just about nutrients here, either. When you’re eating healthy vegetables, you need to feel like you’re satisfied when you’re done. A little bit of fat can go a long way to making that happen. In fact, studies have found that in both taste and satiety, people who ate salads with fat-free dressing were less satisfied afterward than those that ate a salad with an oil and vinegar dressing. That little bit of fat can make a very big difference – even if it’s just a subjective one. Reality is about perception, after all!
Don’t shy away from making healthy foods on your plate easier for you to eat. That doesn’t mean they need to swim in butter or salad dressing, but it does mean that adding a little something extra won’t be the end of the world for your healthy eating plan. Spices and olive oil are your friends, so use them wisely to make foods more palatable and nutritious!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Katy, Tex.