Condiment cures for 100% healthy
Your favorite condiments not only make food extra delicious, they can also help block blood-sugar spikes, calm leg cramps and so much more
Mustard speeds metabolism
A hot dog isn’t complete without mustard, and it turns out the classic topping helps you burn calories. Research suggests that adding mustard seed oil to a high-fat diet slows the accumulation of belly fat. A U.K. study indicates the condiment boosts metabolism for 3 hours.
Ketchup lowers LDL cholesterol
America’s favorite condiment has a hidden talent in helping lower “bad” LDL cholesterol, thanks to its lycopene. A study in Maturitas found eating 25 mg. or more of lycopene daily rivals the effects of statins at curbing LDL. While ketchup won’t get you all the way there (1 Tbs. has around 2 mg.), adding 1 cup of other tomatorich foods like pasta sauce or unsalted tomato juice (which contains around 23 mg. per cup) boosts your lycopene load to Ldl-lowering levels. Tip: Cooked or processed tomatoes contain up to 10 times as much lycopene as fresh tomatoes.
Salsa heals your heart
Adding hot salsa to meals four times a week cuts the risk of a fatal heart attack or stroke, suggests research in the Journal of the American College of Cardiolog y. Anti-inf lammatory capsaicin in the topping protects artery walls against damage. And scientists found that no matter what diet folks followed (healthy or unhealthy), adding four spicy meals a week had the same protective effect.
Vinaigrette curbs glucose
Drizzling homemade Italian dressing over a small side salad thwarts blood-sugar spikes. A University of Arizona study found prediabetic subjects who ate a small amount of apple cider vinegar (less than 1 oz.) at the start of a carb-heavy meal cut their post-meal bloodsugar surge. Vinegar slows the breakdown of simple carbs while speeding the body’s ability to shuttle glucose out of your bloodstream. — Ann Green