Decadent, Chocolate Syrup

If you're trying to eat healthy and you love Mexican food, you probably request all the substitutes you know when dining out. For example, you might opt for a bean burrito instead of a beef and cheese burrito. Or you might request guacamole to top your favorite dishes instead of sour cream and cheese. However, when it comes to salsa, you don't have to request a substitute at all, and you can eat as much of it as you want, because this dish is full of nutrients that offer these healthy benefits:

Tissue and Cell Integrity

The main ingredients of salsa are onions, jalapenos and tomatoes. All three of these ingredients feature vitamin C. Eat as much salsa as you like to improve collagen production. Additionally, salsa helps stop toxic compounds from other foods in their tracks, keeping your DNA, cell membranes and proteins healthy.  

Eat salsa to obtain a little more vitamin C to improve the look of your skin. And don't forget that this vitamin also helps promote cardiovascular health.

Thyroid, Vision and Fetal Development Health

Eat salsa when you eat Mexican food so that you can help your retinas remain healthy and to boost your thyroid functionality. Salsa contains a lot of vitamin A and in addition to being a great choice for your vision and thyroid, you'll also boost your immune system. If you are expecting, Vitamin A will aid your baby's development.  

Gastrointestinal Benefits

If you suffer frequently from stomach pains and indigestion, you may have always been told to lay off the spicy food. But new research indicates that this may not be the case. The capsaicin spice that adds a little kick to salsa helps to fight that off indigestion and other stomach annoyances. Capsaicin may also help stave off ulcers and other issues that can occur in the gut.

Capsaicin is found in various hot peppers such as red peppers and chili peppers. So, eat salsa with just a little kick from these peppers and you'll help your intestinal system, instead of hurting it.

While the salsa you eat while eating Mexican food, or even just as a snack is packed with nutrients that's good for you, consider using it as a topping for your favorite foods and minimize the fried tortilla chips that normally accompany salsa. Next time you go out to a place like Lares Restaurant, ask your server for substitute ideas and how you can incorporate more salsa into the dishes you serve at home. You never know, you just might get a few ideas you hadn't thought of.