March into spring with National Nutrition Month

'Now's the time to spring into action and chart your course for maintaining a healthy lifestyle,' says The Association for Dressings and Sauces (ADS). There's no better month than National Nutrition Month(R) (March) to transform your eating regimen into one that is both healthy and rewarding. The Association for Dressings and Sauces (ADS) is excited to join the American Dietetic Association (ADA) in encouraging consumers to look beyond the myths of nutrition, focus on the facts and remember the theme for the month, Nutrition: It's a Matter of Fact.

During National Nutrition Month(R), created in 1973, the American Dietetic Association promotes healthful eating by providing practical nutrition guidance and focusing attention on making informed food choices and developing sound physical activity habits. According to registered dietician and ADA spokesperson, Kerry Neville, it may seem difficult to determine the most healthful eating plan because there are many nutrition myths that people tend to follow as the truth. That's why it's important to focus on information that is based on scientific research.

The following are examples of science-based information you can trust:

Salads with dressing offer numerous health benefits and are a staple for anyone committed to eating healthy and maintaining optimal weight. Vegetables and fruits in a tossed salad are an excellent source of fibre, which has been linked to a reduced risk of cancer. But there's even more benefits to salads then most people realise. Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles and Louisiana State University published a study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association that found that those who eat salads, raw vegetables and salad dressing have considerably higher levels of vitamins C, E, B6 and folic acid, all key nutrients in promoting a healthy immune system.

In addition, researchers from Iowa State University and Ohio State University published a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that showed eating salad vegetables with some added fat, such as full-fat salad dressings, promotes the absorption of lycopene, alpha- and beta-carotenes, all of which aid in the fight against cancer and heart disease. Some salad dressings also contain alpha-linolenic acid, an essential fatty acid that may protect against fatal heart attacks, and Vitamin E, which has been shown to be beneficial for the heart health of women. And here's an added bonus: most salad dressings are free of trans fats.