Summer is the perfect time to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your meals. Packed with health-promoting nutrients, many can be prepared without needing to use your stove or oven. And there are lots of ways to use them besides just making salads.
Many commercial sauces and dressings contain a lot of sodium, added sugars, and saturated fats. For example, two tablespoons of an average supermarket barbeque sauce has more sugar than a glazed donut. But there are a number of healthier toppings that can be used on salads, fish, chicken, and pasta, such as homemade fruit salsa, pesto sauce, and olive oil and vinegar–based dressing.
Nutritional guidelines continue to advocate eating five daily servings of fruits and vegetables—the so-called five-a-day. New research found that eating more than this amount does not offer extra benefits, and that a ratio of two servings of fruit and three of vegetables might offer the most health benefits.
Fiber improves digestion and may help lower a person’s risk for heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. But according to the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, most people meet only half their daily fiber needs. The main reason is not following a basic healthy diet with foods high in fiber. Making small changes in dietary habits and adopting new fiber-rich foods can help people reach their quota.
People who ate healthy plant-based foods had a 10% reduction in stroke risk, compared with people who ate unhealthy plant-based foods, according to a Harvard study published online March 10, 2021, by the journal Neurology.
Strawberries and blueberries are rich in beneficial plant compounds known as anthocyanins, which give berries their vibrant red, blue, and purple hues. Several studies have linked diets with anthocyanin-rich foods to better heart health.
Eating two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables daily is linked to a lower risk of dying of cardiovascular disease. The healthiest choices include leafy greens, carrots, berries, and citrus fruits.
Resistance bands don’t look impressive, but they work muscles in different ways than other pieces of strength-building equipment. The bands offer varying levels of resistance, can be used to strengthen a variety of muscle groups, and may be easier to use for some people.
Inflammation can be a beneficial sign that the body’s immune system is fighting an infection, but it can also linger over time, damaging the body. There is evidence that eating a diet heavy in foods that promote inflammation can increase the risk for certain health problems, and also that a healthy diet can reduce inflammation.