What are the basic health benefits of eating Salad before and during a meal?
Salad is one of the vital elements of food and is not only light to eat but also has important benefits for health. If a nutrient-rich salad is eaten before lunch, its positive effects on overall health are doubled. Eating salad before meals fills the stomach quickly, and the fibre present in vegetables naturally reduces hunger, due to which you eat less food in the ‘main course’.
Increase life-span
According to research by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), eating a diet rich in fibre reduces overall calorie consumption and keeps weight under control. Eating salad before a meal rich in carbohydrates slows down the digestion of starch and sugar, which prevents a sudden increase in blood sugar and maintains energy throughout the day.
Control Sugar level
A study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association showed that eating vegetables before meals helps control sugar, especially in people who are insulin resistant. Vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals, such as spinach and green leafy vegetables, which contain vitamin K, vitamin C and antioxidants, which are beneficial for heart health, the immune system and the skin.
Eating vegetables before meals helps the body absorb nutrients better.
Raw salad prepares the stomach for eating, and fibre and enzymes speed up digestion, which reduces indigestion and flatulence problems. Regular consumption of salad improves intestinal health.
Fibre and antioxidants help reduce the risk of heart disease.
The vitamins in salad give the body the strength to fight diseases, and the benefits are doubled due to better absorption. Vegetables like cucumber and salad leaves have a high water content. Eating them keeps the body hydrated, and toxins are naturally excreted.
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