This is one of the most satisfying salads I have ever eaten. If you’re an avocado fan, it’s a no-brainer, and the addition of beets really makes this salad shine. Not just because they’re beautiful, but the nutritional benefits of the dietary nitrates naturally found in beets can be a game changer. You can buy beets pre-cooked in the refrigerated section of the produce aisle or roast your own.
P.S. If you’re not already obsessed with Everything Bagel Spice, it’s about time.
Health Benefits of Naturally Occurring Dietary Nitrates:
Exercise Performance
Beets contain natural dietary nitrates, which have been studied extensively for their potential to improve exercise performance. You may have heard of people drinking beet juice before training or competition. This is because the dietary nitrates found in beets have been shown to significantly improve performance during high-intensity endurance exercise in recreationally active or sub-elite athletes(1). This is through its ability to improve muscle efficiency and oxygen delivery to the muscles during exercise (2).
Heart Health
Consumption of high amounts of dietary nitrates has been shown to be excellent for heart health. Consuming foods with nitrates consistently and in large quantities, may help to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease (3).
Brain Health and Cognition
For similar reasons that dietary nitrates have the potential to enhance the body’s performance during exercise and promote heart health, dietary nitrates are also being studied for their impact on cognitive functioning. Studies suggest that consumption of the dietary nitrate found in vegetables may improve cognitive function in adults (4).
So whip up this beauty and get your fitness on! Your body and your tastebuds will thank you for it!
Avocado and Beet Salad with Everything Bagel Spice, Lemon and Dill
Ingredients:
- 1 large avocado, sliced into thin strips
- 2-3 cooked beets, sliced to make circles (see photos for reference)
- 2 tablespoons of fresh dill
- 2 teaspoons everything bagel spice, or to preference
- Juice of half a lemon
- Lemon zest (optional)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions:
How to cook Avocado and Beet Salad with Everything Bagel Spice, Lemon and Dill
- Arrange sliced avocado and beets on salad plates and top with a drizzle of fresh lemon juice, olive oil, fresh dill and everything bagel spice. Enjoy immediately.
Notes:
Calories
332.18Fat (grams)
21.74Sat. Fat (grams)
3.11Carbs (grams)
35.34Fiber (grams)
9.10Net carbs
26.24Sugar (grams)
21.04Protein (grams)
4.01Sodium (milligrams)
148.46Cholesterol (grams)
0.00