Pomegranate and Butternut Squash Spinach Salad
I was looking for a light and nutritious salad to get away from the every day traditional salads I’d been eating for lunch. I came across this wonderful salad made with pomegranates and butternut squash. It sounded interesting and, in my research, I learned that not only was it full of nutrients, but it had health benefits as well. It’s such a great salad. It’s light. It’s pretty. It’s healthy. It’s just the salad I was looking for, and I wanted to share it with you, too!
image credit: Amy Myers MD
Pomegranates are packed with fiber, vitamins and minerals. Punicalagins are powerful antioxidants found in the juice and peel of the pomegranate which have been found to be three times more beneficial than antioxidants in green tea. Pomegranate seed oil (also known as punicic acid) is a type of conjugated linoleic acid whose intake has been linked to a reduction in body fat. Pomegranate consumption has also been linked to a reduction in inflammatory markers such as c-reactive protein and interleukin-6 which can help to fight off arthritis and joint pain and may lower risk for cancers and cardiovascular disease.
I want to thank Taylor Morgan, RDN, LD, of Edmund, OK, who provides personalized nutrition for optimal health and well-being, for sharing this recipe on Amy Myers MD. For recipe, click here.