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15-minute AMRAP

Lemony Broccoli Salad with Chicken

How Sugar Drives Heart Disease

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Complete as many rounds as possible in 15 minutes of:

12 med ball cleans
12 weighted step-ups
12-calorie row

A bright, tangy salad with tender chicken, crisp broccoli, and fresh lemon dressing.

Why sugar, not just saturated fat, deserves attention in heart disease

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The
Daily
Fix

Photo of Lemony Broccoli Salad with Chicken Article Heading Photo

Use a medicine ball that is heavier than you typically use for wall balls. Hold the ball for the step-ups and step a high box.

Post ball weight, box height, and number of rounds completed to comments.

Ingredients

2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded
3 cups broccoli florets, lightly steamed
¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
2 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
½ tsp garlic powder
Salt and pepper, to taste

Macronutrients
(per serving, serves 4)

Protein: 25g
Fat: 10g
Carbs: 6g

Preparation
Bring a pot of water to a boil and place a steamer basket inside. Add broccoli florets and steam for 2–3 minutes, just until crisp-tender and vibrant green. Immediately transfer to an ice bath or rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Drain and pat dry.

If not already cooked, season chicken with salt and pepper and pan-sear in butter over medium heat until fully cooked through (internal temp 165°F), about 4–5 minutes per side depending on thickness. Let rest, then chop into bite-sized pieces.

In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until emulsified.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the steamed broccoli, chopped chicken, sliced red onion, and parsley.

Pour the lemon dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve chilled or at room temperature. This salad improves after 30 minutes in the fridge as the flavors meld.

A 2017 paper published in BMJ Open Heart argues that the role of sugar in heart disease has been overshadowed by decades of attention to saturated fat and cholesterol. Authors James DiNicolantonio and James O’Keefe review evidence linking high sugar consumption to insulin resistance, elevated insulin levels, and metabolic abnormalities associated with coronary heart disease. They highlight research showing that people consuming 25% or more of their calories from added sugars had nearly three times the cardiovascular mortality risk of those consuming less than 10%.

The authors also point to controlled feeding studies showing that replacing starch with sucrose or fructose can worsen insulin sensitivity, even when calorie intake remains unchanged. They argue that chronically elevated insulin may contribute to heart disease through increased fat production, vascular changes, and other metabolic disturbances. Rather than treating cholesterol as the central problem, the paper makes the case that insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia deserve far greater attention in understanding and preventing coronary heart disease.

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