Do You Realize How Amazingly Nutritious Salsas and Guacamole Are?
Wednesday, May 14th, 2008Sitting on my favorite Mexican food restaurant I began to think how nutritious and healthy salsa and guacamole really is. These two simple dips contain so many vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants it’s amazing. Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients in salsa and guacamole.
Tomato — Tomatoes have vitamin A, C, K, calcium, and niacin. They are also loaded with antioxidants. Tomatoes can help purify your blood, improve skin clarity, and also reduce cholesterol. Tomatoes also have properties that help fight cancer of the prostate and colon.
Hot Peppers — Peppers contain an ingredient known as capsaicin. That’s the stuff that burns your mouth. Capsaicin is a great antioxidant. It also relieves allergies, pain, ulcers, headaches, and congestion. Eating peppers can help reduce cholesterol, blood clotting, and increase your metabolism.
Onion — Onions are also loaded with antioxidants, vitamin C, E, Potassium, fiber and folic acid. Onions also help reduce cholesterol, arterial sclerosis, and other coronary heart diseases. Eating onions also help removing heavy metals and detoxify your body. They’ve also been known to have properties that help fight cancer of the ovaries, breasts, lung and bladder.
Garlic — One of my favorite herbs is also loaded with antioxidants. Garlic has been known to lower blood pressure and cholesterol. It’s also great at cleansing the liver and the occasional vampire. Garlic is also believed to help fight stomach cancer.
Cilantro — Cilantro is a natural internal and external deodorizer, which also happens to be loaded with, again, more antioxidants. It has been known to relieve nausea, indigestion and bloating. Traditional Chinese medicine has used cilantro to help cure urinary tract infections. Cilantro can help reduce cholesterol and blood sugar, while also removing heavy metals including mercury.
Cumin — Cumin is actually a great resource for iron. It can also improve digestion and help strengthen your immune system; cumin has an antioxidant that helps fight cancer of the liver.
Lemon Juice & Lime Juice — These juices are a great resource for vitamin C. They can help relieve stomach discomfort and removes gallstones. It’s a wonderful natural cleansing agent and they can help prevent osteoarthritis, diabetes, arteriosclerosis and kidney stones.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil — Olive oil has a healthy fatty acid and has been known to help reduce blood pressure, asthma and arthritis. Great for greasing those stiff joints you may have.
Apple Cider Vinegar — Raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar contains enzymes great for digestion. It’s been known to help relieve gout, acid reflux and arthritis symptoms. Apple cider vinegar can also be used to help reduce cholesterol, calcium deposits, acne, allergies, and blood sugar. Do you get a little tired after a workout? Apple cider vinegar is great for muscle fatigue. In addition to all this apple cider vinegar can strengthen the immune system and improve your stamina and metabolism.
Avocado — Avocados are an amazing fruit. They contain vitamin C, healthy fats, and magnesium. Eating avocados can help improve the absorption of nutrients of other foods. What a great appetizer before that tasty meal. Avocados can improve your skin clarity and tone. Try an avocado mask as well as eating them to treat your skin from the inside out. Avocados are also believed to help fight cancer of the mouth, breast and prostate.
So have I made you hungry yet? Go out to your favorite Mexican restaurant and enjoy these wonderful dips. Better yet, get all the ingredients and make it fresh at home. Here a couple recipes you can follow.
Recipe for Salsa Fresca
Ingredients:
4 tomatoes (choose two varieties).
1 onion (your choice of color).
2 peppers (your choice of type and temperature).
2 cloves garlic.
½ cup cilantro (leaves and stems).
1 Tbsp lemon juice.
1 Tbsp olive oil.
1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar.
1 tsp cumin.
1 tsp coriander.
Instructions:
Mince garlic, cilantro, cumin and coriander.
Add lemon, oil and vinegar to spice blend.
Dice tomato, onion, garlic and add to spice blend.
Blend ingredients together with potato masher.
Cover 10 minutes and serve at room temperature.
Recipe for Guacamole
Ingredients:
4 ripe (Hass) avocados.
¼ cup salsa fresca (see above).
1 Tbsp lime juice.
½ tsp Sea salt.
Instructions:
Briefly stir together avocado and salsa.
Top with lime juice and salt.
Cover 30 minutes and serve chilled.
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