It’s British Tomato Week, set up as a kickstart for us all to eat more tomatoes. And why not? They’re a great source of vitamins A, B6, C, E and K, copper, potassium and niacin to name but a few health benefits of the humble tomato.
Although often thought of as a salad, a tomato is actually a fruit. Anyway, it tastes delicious in salads, and seeing as we’ve had a few signs of sunny weather, it’s the perfect reason to start eating more health-boosting salads.
Here are some of the healthiest salads around:
- Dark green lettuce, kale and spinach are packed with vitamins A, C, E and K. These are the vitamins that protect bones, keep hair healthy, help boost the immune system, and keep the heart healthy.
- Romaine lettuce contains 40 per cent of your daily need of folate. A recent US study showed that the higher the folate level in someone’s diet, the lower their risk of cardiovascular disease.
- You can add to salads such as tuna, salmon and skinless chicken or turkey – all have lots of protein to boost the body’s bone and muscle strength. Vegetarians (and anyone else!) can add beans, boiled eggs and legumes for protein boosts.
- Lighter coloured leafy greens such as iceberg lettuce don’t give much nutrition, but they will fill you up for less calories. With calories in mind, watch your salad dressings as they can often be deceptively fatty!
- Olives and avocados are packed with all manner of health-boosting goodness, such as olives being very high in vitamin E; and avocados being a fantastic source of vitamins C, E, K and B-6.
Of course, eating healthily is only part of the way to being fit and healthy. That’s why we’d love to see you at one of our gyms. We’re open 24/7 to welcome you.
