Salad is definitely an extremely healthy choice on the menu, but what we add to it is also essential. It often happens that these are all kinds of ingredients, not paying attention to their amount, calories or nutrients they contain. And that can turn salads into junk food.
Nutritionists explain which ingredients are recommended to add to a salad and which should be avoided…
Useful: nuts and seeds
They are a great source of protein , healthy fats, vitamins, minerals and fiber. Walnuts, for example, are a recommended addition to salads. The amount of only half a cup can deliver the recommended daily intake of heart - healthy omega-3 fatty acids .
Walnuts are also a rich source of biotin , which promotes hair and nail growth, skin health and can relieve the symptoms of depression . The fat in these nuts helps absorb the fat-soluble vitamins in the salad.
Almonds are also a good choice. They contain large amounts of vitamin E, antioxidants , as well as protein, fiber and fat , thus keeping hunger at bay.
Harmful: everything fried and breaded
Fried crispy onions or tortilla chips practically turn the salad into a harmful food. Anything fried or breaded adds significant amounts of calories and processed carbohydrates to an otherwise healthy vegetable dish.
If the goal is to achieve a crispy texture, the recommended choice is pumpkin seeds, for example, which also contain useful nutrients.
Useful: lean meat and seafood
They provide the body with the proteins it needs. Experts explain that our immune system is made up of various proteins and their lack can impair its function and thus increase the risk of infections .