Antioxidant Rich Salads | Antioxidant Indian salads | healthy Antioxidant salads |

Including salads to your daily meals can help you in adding antioxidants to your diet. Salads are the healthiest option if you’re on a weight loss diet. They provide you the necessary vitamins and minerals along with fiber. There are many benefits of including salads to your diet like regulating your bowel movements, meeting your daily allowances of vitamins and minerals, weight loss or weight maintenance.

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16 antioxidant rich vegetables for salads in India. list of antioxidant rich vegetables for salads in India.

1. Carrots. See recipes using carrots. Carrots have Beta Carotene which is a powerful Antioxidant . It helps fight free radicals which do damage to our cells. The net result is lower body inflammation.
2. Spinach (Palak). See recipes using spinach. Spinach is a great Antioxidant and also one of the best vegetables to reduce cellular inflammation. Cutting out processed foods and sugar will go a long way in living a healthy lifestyle. One of the antioxidant found in spinach is factor CO-Q10 which is very important in strengthening your muscles, especially heart muscles and pump blood to different parts of your body.
3. Broccoli. see our Indian recipes using broccoli. Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables are rich in Antioxidants which helps remove harmful substances called free radicals. But remember to consume a rainbow of colorful vegetables and fruits daily. Antioxidants in turn lowers the risk of infection and inflammation of the body due to eating processed foods.
4. Sweet Potato. see our Indian recipes using sweet potatoes. Sweet Potato is a Boon for Boosting Immunity : The credit for this too goes to the ‘Antioxidants’, especially vitamin C. It helps build immune cells (WBC) thus forming a line of defence against all types of infections. 
5. Red Pumpkin. see recipes using pumpkin, bhopla. The magical combo of antioxidants and vitamins A and Vitamin C  create a shield against cancer cells.
6. Cabbage. see Indian reicpes using cabbage. Cabbage has high levels of flavonoids and anthocyanins and has long been used as a herbal medicine. The antioxidants help in removal of harmful substances from our body called free radicals.
7.  Lettuce. see recipes using lettuce. Lettuce  Abounds in Vitamin A – Stops Inflammation and Improves Eyesight  : The antioxidants like vitamin A benefit us by ceasing the inflammation in the body which otherwise cause damage at cellular level. It also works with vitamin C to stop free radical damage. See healthy vegan office salad recipe. 
8. Tomatoes. see Indian recipes using tomatoes. Powerful Antioxidant: Tomatoes are extremely rich source of Lycopene. Lycopene is an antioxidant which scavenges the free radicals that causes cellular inflammation. Inflammation is the major cause of all the diseases. See tomato cucumber and onion salad recipe | healthy kachumber salad| cucumber tomato onion salad |
9. Purple Cabbage (Red Cabbage). see Indain recipes using red cabbage. Rich in Antioxidants in turn lowers the risk of infection and inflammation of the body due to eating processed foods. Red cabbage also called purple cabbage has slightly high levels of flavonoids and anthocyanins than green cabbage and has long been used as a herbal medicine. It has same health benefits to offer as the cabbage otherwise.
10. Red Bell Pepper (Red Capsicum). Rich in vitamin C, capsicum protect and maintain the lining of the heart. Low glycemic index (40) colourful capsicum are immune boosters. Colourful capsicums (red, green and yellow capsicum) are not only visually appealing but also good for your eyes too, as they contain antioxidant Lutein, which protects the eye from cataracts and degeneration of the eye. Capsicum is high in Folate or folic acid, which is important for rapid growth and multiplication of red blood cells and white blood cells in the bone marrow. See detailed benefits of capsicum.  
11. Onion. see Indian recipes using onions. Yes, it’s a source of many antioxidants, the most important one amongst them being Quercetin. This antioxidant exhibits anti-inflammatory properties to ward off the free radicals which would otherwise harm our healthy body cells. This in turn prevents the onset of various chronic diseases like cancer, heart diseases etc. 
12. Garlic. see Indian recipes using garlic. An antioxidant protects the cells of the body from damage by harmful molecules called free radicals. The active ingredient allicin present in garlic aids in lowering blood pressure. Garlic is known to lower cholesterol  and thin the blood, which helps to prevent stroke.
13. Avocado. Avocados are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) which help to manage the cholesterol levels within normal limits. They also help reduce inflammation in the body and prevent blockage of arteries – one of the main reasons for heart attacks. The fiber in avocado (5 g) and the healthy fats (11 g) along with low carbs (6.3 g) aids in weight loss. See detailed avocado benefits.
14. lemons. Lemon is a very good source of Vitamin C and thus helps in the production of  white blood cells and antibodies in the blood which attacks invading microorganisms, prevents infection and builds immunity. Therefore, Lemon juice is given to prevent common cold. The ascorbic acid in lemon juice helps in absorption of iron from the food. So if you’re iron deficient or have anaemia squeeze a lemon on iron rich recipes. See detailed benefits of lemon, lemon juice.
15. Cauliflower. Cauliflower is extremely low in carbs and therefore does not raise blood glucose levels quickly. One cup Cauliflower provides you 100% off your daily recommended allowance of Vitamin C. It is rich in Antioxidant.
16. fenugreek leaves. Methi leaves are low in calorie, powerful antioxidant and cures mouth ulcers. Fenugreek leaves help in improving glucose and insulin responses, hence good for diabetics. The levels of cholesterol also reduced with intakes of fenugreek leaves. See all benefits of methi leaves here.

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12 antioxidant rich fruits for salads in India

1.  Muskmelon abounds in a key nutrient vitamin C, which strengthens our immune system by building our immune cells – white blood cells (WBC). This low-fat and high antioxidant fruit holds the capacity of reducing inflammation in the body and thus protecting your arteries and in turn heart. See detailed benefits of muskmelon. 
2. Mango. The most important role Mango has is to build our immune system by building our white blood cells (WBC) and in turn help to keep diseases like common cold and cough at bay.
3. Papaya. Being rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin C, it helps to protect against heart diseases by oxidising the excess Cholesterol. Papaya is low in carbs and therefore does not raise blood glucose levels and relives constipation.
4. Oranges. Oranges, Sweet Lime (Mosambi) Citrus fruits : These fruits are low in calorie and rich source of fiber. They are also low carb and high in Vitamic C.
5. Strawberry. Strawberries are chock-full of a phytonutrients, which are good antioxidants and reduce body inflammation. This pink-red coloured fruit abounds in vitamin C. You will be surprised that a cup of strawberry is enough to fulfills your day’s requirement of vitamin C, which helps in building a healthy immune system and keeping all types of infections away.
6. Guava. (Peru) : After amla, guava is a fruit, which is packed with immune building Vitamin C (275.5 mg / cup). Guavas are a great source of fighting bacteria, which cause diseases like common cold and cough.
7. Pineapple. Packed with vitamin C (64.7 mg / cup), pineapple is one such fruit which boosts immunity. They help build our line of defence against diseases by building white blood cells (WBC).
8. Apple. Being low in sodium, apples are effective against high blood pressure because of its diuretic effect. Don't peel the fruit to get maximum apple benefits. Two-thirds of the fibre and lots of antioxidants are found in the peel.
9. Watermelons. Watermelon is low in calories and full of water, thus is good for weight loss too. Citrulline in watermelon has been studied for its effect on heart function and it was revealed that it improves heart function and helps in the treatment of heart failure.
10. Blueberries. 1. Powerful Antioxidant : Blueberries have great antioxidant value, especially anthocyanins, which help to fight cancer and degeneration of cells. 2. Good for Skin : The antioxidants also help to fight harmful free radicals and reduce wrinkles on your skin.
11. Raspberry
12. Peach. Peaches are not very high in calories and a good source of fibre. Thus they have a good satiety value. You can have them in between meals while on weight loss regime.

For those who are on a low calorie or low fat diet, can begin with a simple salad like cabbage salad. A tangy dressing with black salt, lemon juice and red chilli and coriander powder, olive oil, asafoetida and black salt is the magic spell that transforms simple cabbage into such a singularly wonderful cabbage salad recipe! Try it to believe it. Pour the dressing over cabbage that is combined with green chillies and coriander, mix well and you are good to go!

Cabbage Salad

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And if you are looking for a creamy salad which is nourishing, then Cucumber Capsicum and Celery Salad is the perfect pick for you. The low-fat curd dressing is delicately flavoured with basil and mustard powder. The fruits, vegetables and low-fat curds have few calories, but contains a lot of fibre. Such salads should be had before a meal as they are filling, to avoid overeating during the other courses that follow.

Cucumber, Capsicum and Celery Salad

Kachumber are all time favourite Indian salads. With tinge of a whole lot of spices, salads like cabbage and carrot kachumber cannot fail to entice Indian palates. It is a healthy addition to an obese, a heart patient’s and a diabetic meal. The reason is its amazing nutrition factor. With 49 calories, 2.2 g of fibre and 5.3 g of carbs, this salad helps to keep you full for long hours. Veggies ranging from cabbage to carrot and not to forget the lemons. are a storehouse of antioxidants like vitamin A, vitamin C and flavonoids and anthocyanin, help in removal of harmful substances from our body called free radicals. These antioxidants also lowers the risk of infection and inflammation of the body due to eating processed foods.

cabbage and carrot kachumber recipe | kobi and gajar kachumber | Gujarati cabbage and carrot sambharo | stir fried cabbage and carrot

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Vitamin C rich anitoxidant salad : Packed with protein, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin A, iron and fibre, Orange Tabbouleh is spiked up with a lot of mediterranean flavours like olive oil, oranges and parsley.

Orange Tabbouleh

Salads are one of the easiest way to make up for the recommended vegetable and fruit serving size. Here we have carefully selected recipes which are free from fat, cream, cheese or oil. Try our vitamin C rich salads such as Orange Tabbouleh and Lettuce Bean Sprouts and Broccoli Salad and Vitamin A rich Pineapple Cucumber Salad, Vitamin E rich Avocado Salad

These are best consumed immediately to benefit the most from their antioxidant content.