A Healthy Heart is Just One Benefit from Healthy Mexican Food

submitted: Jul 20th 2008 | by: KCKudra | Total views: 10 | Word Count: 478 | | |

Mexican foods are very popular throughout the United States and many Americans enjoy eating Mexican cuisine as regularly as once a week. The problem with this is that Mexican foods in America have changed considerably from the authentic Mexican recipes. Americans have super-sized the portions and added fat. Many American style Mexican dishes are not even available in Mexico because they were invented in America. Traditional Mexican recipes are rich in fresh vegetables and protein. Nutritious vegetables are frequently used and spices are used for flavoring rather than artificial flavorings or a lot of added fat. Unfortunately, these delicious authentic recipes are seldom used in their American style equivalent recipes and healthy Mexican food can be hard to find north of the border.

Healthy Mexican Food versus Unhealthy Mexican Fast Food

Mexican Food Healthy Ideas for Today's Diet

Which Ingredients are used in Healthy Mexican Food?

Authentic Mexican dishes usually contain fewer calories and less fat. This does not mean you should not visit fast food restaurants or avoid Mexican food altogether but you should watch what you are eating. This means adding healthy ingredients to the Mexican dishes you prepare yourself. Tomatoes, for example, contain lycopene, which fights cancer, and also contain plenty of vitamins.

Tomatoes can be added to many Mexican dishes. Beans carry high protein and fiber. Instead of eating the beans refried, try getting them whole. It cuts back on the fat. Corn is another vegetable that is healthy in Mexican foods. It is high in vitamins and contains fiber. Adding these to your Mexican dishes will make them healthier than what you are served at Taco Bell.

So, do Mexicans eat healthily? Well, there are plenty of health food stores in America where we can buy healthy food alternatives and there are also health food stores in Mexico. In fact, over $500 million is spent on health foods yearly in Mexico. Not everybody can afford to pay more for health foods however.

Five percent of the population of Mexico regularly consumes health foods. They range from twenty to fifty in age and normally live in metropolitan areas where health food shops are located. Even Mexicans with less money eat more healthily than most Americans. Traditional Mexican recipes are healthier than a lot of American recipes and Americanized Mexican dishes. In addition, Mexicans use different cooking methods and do not use fattening cooking methods such as deep-frying as often as Americans do.

Mexican Food Pyramid Food for a Healthy You

The food pyramid is a drawing used to show the percentages of proteins, fat, carbohydrates and other foods which make up a healthy diet. For example, fried foods and sugars occupy a small space at the top of the food pyramid, since you should eat these infrequently. American has fattened up traditional Mexican recipes so it is a good idea to choose authentic Mexican restaurants or make your own homemade healthy Mexican food.

About the Author

Mexican food recipes loved by one and all. Discover why everyone is finding the joys of authentic Mexican recipes and find out just how easy they can be to make for your family. Grab a totally unique version of this article from the Uber Article Directory

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