Healthy Foods from A-Z, “J”

November 3, 2015 Meredith Mitchell

Good Morning Everyone!

We are on to the letter “J” in our journey through the alphabet of healthy foods!

Jalapeno Peppers –

Jalapeno peppers can provide more than just an extra kick of flavor to your nachos and tacos. These small, fiery green peppers provide multiple vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to support a healthy body. A jalapeno contains a lot of potassium considering its petite size and can help you to manage your weight. Buying some fresh jalapenos and adding them to mashed avocado, eggs, salsas, dips and meatloaf is an easy way to provide extra nutrition and spice to your diet.

Health Benefits include:

Contains minerals that play a role in promoting healthy red blood cells, strong bone development and nervous system function

A substance in jalapenos, called capsaicin, helps to boost your metabolism which in turn aids in weight loss

Shown to provide relief for migraine headaches

The heat in a jalapeno pepper helps to clear mucus from the nose, thereby fighting nasal congestion

They provide antioxidants in addition to vitamins C and E

**Fresh peppers have greater antioxidant content then canned or jarred versions

Capsaicin, which gives jalapenos and other peppers their heat, can raise your core body temperature leading to an increased metabolic rate. While the metabolism-boosting effects are mild, the hot flavor can help to suppress your appetite and lead you to eat less at meals.

For more information visit:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/409721-what-are-the-health-benefits-of-jalapeno-peppers/

http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/6-health-benefits-of-jalapenos.html

Some great and healthy recipes for jalapeno peppers include:

Lighter Jalapeno Poppers – http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/lighter-jalapeno-poppers/

Jalapeno Hummus – http://allrecipes.com/recipe/46462/jalapeno-hummus/?internalSource=staff%20pick&referringId=2275&referringContentType=recipe%20hub

Jicama –

Jicama, also known as a yam bean, is a round, fleshy root vegetable of the bean family. Like any fruit or vegetable, jicama is full of health-boosting vitamins and minerals including vitamin C. Due to its high vitamin C content, jicama is great for boosting the immune system, supporting eye and skin health, and helping with anti-inflammatory action in the body to reduce everything from arthritis to a stuffy nose and watery eyes. Its high vitamin C content could even be the answer to heart disease prevention.

Health Benefits include:

Contains very low sodium and hardly any fat so it supports good heart health and maintenance of a healthy weight
Contains very little calories and is high in fiber, making it a great tool for weight loss
Full of potassium, calcium and magnesium which are all important trace minerals for our sustained health
Contains vitamin B-6 which supports healthy brain functioning and helps our body break down protein into usable energy
One small jicama root contains about 4 milligrams of iron, which amounts to about 22% of the recommended daily allowance

**Iron helps to make sure our red blood cells have enough oxygen and helps to boost our energy levels

For more information visit:

http://naturalsociety.com/7-benefits-of-the-root-vegetable-jicama/

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