Kick it up a Notch with Salsa

It’s National Salsa Month and I don’t mean the dance. Salsa is the perfect dipping sauce to spice up your meals. Salsa can be made or purchased with different levels of heat. So, whether you like it mild or extremely hot there’s a salsa for you. Luckily, this condiment is low in fat and has healthy qualities for you to feel good about.

Let’s break down some of the main ingredients to show the health benefits of this spicy sauce:

Tomatoes

Plump ripe tomatoes are a staple in all salsa recipes. Red tomatoes are a popular choice in salsas but green tomato salsa is just as good.

Tomatoes have high levels of the antioxidant lycopene. Lycopene is thought to reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Tomatoes contain many vitamins including vitamins C, A and B.

Chili Peppers

You can pick and choose the type(s) of chilies you want in your salsa. As you might know, the type of chili you should choose depends on how hot you would like it to be.

Poblano peppers are one of the milder chili peppers used in salsa while jalapenos are medium in heat. Serrano peppers are hotter than jalapenos and commonly used in salsa. Habaneros are the hottest of the hot, caveat emptor!

Chili has a unique calorie burning quality. They are a thermogenic spice that naturally raises metabolic rate. They contain capsaicin that increases heart rate when consumed. In addition to burning calories, chilies contain vitamins A, C and E, and potassium and folic acid.

So far, we can get a great deal of vitamins from salsa, especially vitamins A and C plus antioxidants as well as calorie burning benefits. But that’s not all.

Onions

The onions compliment the chilies and tomato well because they have a way of absorbing their flavors while providing its own essence. They are rich in vitamins, fiber, and iron.

Olive Oil

Olive oil is another common ingredient in salsa. This oil contains “healthy fats” called monounsaturated fatty acids. Monounsaturated fats help to raise good cholesterol and lower bad cholesterol. This can reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

Lemon Juice

Salsa has another vitamin C packed ingredient, lemon juice. This ingredient also contains potassium. Zesty lemon juice amps up the taste of salsa.

Garlic

You wouldn’t want to waste garlic on fighting vampires when you can make salsa with it. Though, garlic has a strong pungent taste when eaten alone, it acts as a flavor booster in salsa. Garlic is packed with vitamins and nutrients such as protein, vitamins B, B2, A, C plus calcium, protein, zinc and more.

Enjoy your salsa with whole wheat tortilla chips, vegetables, fajitas and anything else you desire.

How will you be preparing salsa this month?