Fall is the season to introduce must-have nutrients into one’s diet and to keep up healthy summer eating habits. It is also a good time to boost your immune system to fight against illnesses as the months get cooler.

When it comes to nutrition, there’s great news from the UCLA School of Public Health – a new study, published in September’s issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association (JADA), has found that eating just one salad a day provides even greater health benefits than previously thought. It revealed that those who eat salads with salad dressing and raw vegetables have considerably higher levels of vitamins C, E, B6, and folic acid – essential nutrients that promote a healthy immune system and reduce the risk of obesity, heart disease and other chronic illnesses.

Interestingly, the study also confirmed earlier findings from a joint study conducted by Iowa State University, Ohio State University and others, that adding salad dressing to a salad not only adds a delicious flavor, but increases the absorption of certain nutrients being consumed. Those nutrients are essential for protecting bodies against illnesses as the cold and flu season begin.

Incorporating healthy salad options into your diet is a great way to enjoy fall veggies while boosting your health. Some great fall salad recipes are Roasted Pacific Salmon and Mexican Bean Salad, Fall Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette and Autumn Apple, Pear, and Cheddar Salad with Pecans. Try some of these great fall salad recipes below with dressing suggestions or use your favorite dressing. Each makes a wonderful side dish and can also be served as a main course with chicken, steak, shrimp or tofu.

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Studies Show Health Benefits of “Indulgent” Foods

As science evolves, researchers are finding that some indulgences or guilty pleasures that were once thought to be luxuries, may actually do a body good. As the saying goes, “everything in moderation”, but these are a few new guilty pleasures you can enjoy – backed by new scientific research that will have you reaching for that extra piece of chocolate or for one more beer!

Dark Chocolate
Valentine’s Day just got even sweeter! Research from the University of Glasgow and Italy’s National Institute for Food and Nutrition Research shows dark chocolate can actually be good for you. It can improve blood flow to the heart and lower high blood pressure. Dark chocolate contains flavonoids, which may prevent the stiffening of blood vessels. A diet containing about an ounce of dark chocolate a day also increases good cholesterol and prevents bad cholesterol from oxidizing, a process that may lead to heart disease.

Salad Dressing
Forget about the apple — a salad a day keeps the doctor away! New evidence shows that eating salad dressing not only adds delicious flavor to salad, but importantly, increases the absorption of some of the salads’ nutrients. A new study conducted by the UCLA School of Public Health states that those who eat salads with salad dressing and raw vegetables have considerably higher levels of vitamins C, E, B6, and folic acid. These key nutrients play a vital role in promoting a healthy immune system and reducing the risk of obesity, heart disease and other chronic illnesses.

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Dietary supplements and multi-vitamins are big business today, claiming to provide your daily value of essential vitamins and other helpful supplements, such as fiber and herbs in one dose. Wander the aisles of any drug store and you’ll see numerous supplements in the form of pills, capsules, powders, gel tabs, extracts, or liquids. You can even find them added to drinks or energy bars.

While this approach fits in perfectly with the busy schedule of today’s average American, science has proven that the best way to get vitamins and minerals is not from a “quick fix” pill, but from the foods you eat. The reason? Pills and supplements do not have the same effect on the body as the vitamins and nutrients found in fresh fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are a natural source of energy and give the body many nutrients, such as A, B, and C, required to keep the body functioning at its best. And those with hectic schedules can easily eat a piece of fruit or a handful of carrot sticks on the go.

Further evidence in support of a daily dose of vegetables comes from a new study conducted by the UCLA School of Public Health. The study examined salad and raw vegetable consumption by more than 17,000 adults, revealing that people who eat salads are more likely to meet the recommended daily intake of essential vitamins than those who don’t. It also found that those who eat salads with salad dressing and raw vegetables every day have considerably higher levels of vitamins C, E, B6 and folic acid – key nutrients that aid in promoting a healthy immune system.

Those who still need that extra “push” to maximize their intake of vitamins and nutrients should consider this: it’s as easy as adding a little salad dressing to your diet. Eating salad dressing not only adds a delicious flavor, but also increases the absorption of some of the salad’s nutrients, according to a joint-study earlier conducted by researchers with Iowa State University, Ohio State University and others.

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Long known as essential for general health, copper may also prevent serious infections and disease, according to new studies.

It’s easy to take copper for granted. It’s just another metal, even if it does have some unexpected and interesting attributes. Copper is what pennies, rooftops and the Statue of Liberty are made of. It has become so valuable that junkyards are paying porterhouse prices for scrap. It turns green as it ages.

Okay, pennies are just coated with copper. But did you know that you can’t live without this ubiquitous metal? Or that the world around you wouldn’t be the same without the unique benefits of copper? Copper also may be protecting you and everyone else from bacterial disease—even saving lives—in ways you probably don’t realize.

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