Celebrate "Fruits & Veggies: More Matters"
Month All This Month!

(September 2007) ATLANTA, GA – “This month, make it a priority to increase your consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits the fun way,” says The Association for Dressings & Sauces (ADS). The Atlanta-based trade association of salad dressing and sauce manufacturers and suppliers joins the Produce for Better Health Foundation in celebrating September as “Fruits and Veggies – More Matters” Month.

One of the easiest and most versatile ways to add vegetables and fruits  to any diet is to incorporate salads with dressing into the menu each and every day. Salads offer numerous health benefits and are a must-have for anyone committed to eating healthy and maintaining a nutritionally-balanced diet.  Fresh fruits and veggies in a variety of salads are an excellent source of fiber, which has been linked to a reduced risk of cancer. In addition, researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles and Louisiana State University published a study in the September 2006 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.

Even better, researchers from Iowa State University and Ohio State University published a study in the August 2004 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. More good news?  The vast majority of salad dressings are and have always been naturally free of trans fats.  So make sure to eat a salad a day and top with your favorite dressing!