ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! It seems everyone loves a good Salsa. Since 1990 Salsa has been bought by more consumers than ketchup. It has become the #1 condiment sold in the US. There are over 1000 salsa manufacturers in the US.

Salsa is a Spanish word meaning “sauce”. An article in the New York Times points out that “Salsa is a cornerstone of the Mexican kitchen, a contrast for a repetitive diet of bread, potatoes and beans. Just as French cooks understand that béarnaise sauce suits some dishes, hollandaise others, Mexican cooks know salsas have different qualities and functions.”

Salsa has now become the favorite “sauce” in American kitchens too. Gringos have taken Salsa to new and hopefully better heights. Salsas come in a variety of flavors and textures. There are fruit based salsas’’ such as peach, mango, and pineapple. Common vegetable based salsas’ use tomatoes, chili peppers, onions, garlic, cilantro and many other popular vegetables. Textures range from pureed (Picante) to semi-chunky (Salsa Cruda). Fresh salsa, meaning it is not cooked, is called Salsa Fresca.

Today’s health conscious consumer will more likely choose a “Fresh” product as opposed to a processed counterpart. The most obvious reason is taste. Maria Louisa Salsa will give you an explosion of taste in very bite. Another reason is the benefits that come from easting raw fruits and vegetables. The U.S Food and Drug Administration recommend that we eat at least 5-9 servings per day. Salsa has now been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for school lunch programs and qualifies as one serving of vegetables.

Ingredients in Maria Louisa Salsa provide specific health benefits that come together to form an essential part of a balanced diet.

Tomatoes
Tomatoes are rich in potassium, vitamins C and A, and include lycopene, which is an antioxidant that has cancer-fighting properties.

Red Onions
Red onions contain allyl propyl disulphides, flavonoids, and quercetin. These elements help reduce heart disease as well as certain types of cancer. They help clean up oxidative damage that can lead to cancer. They have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties that may prevent the growth of certain types of tumors. They are also a natural antihistamine.

Cilantro
Cilantro is a detoxer that removes heavy metals like mercury, aluminum and lead from the body and brain. Cilantro can help prevent depression, Alzheimer’s disease, protects against salmonella bacteria, helps digestion, lowers blood sugar and bad cholesterol, and is an anti-inflammatory.  Cilantro leaves are rich in phytochemicals, flavinoids and phenolic acid compounds that may attribute toward its immense health benefits. Cilantro is known to have antibiotic properties and is effective against Salmonella infections.  Cilantro is a natural detoxifying and chelating agent. When consumed on a regular basis it helps cleanse the body of toxic, heavy metal deposits such as mercury, lead and aluminum. Retention of heavy metals in the body can hamper brain function and cause memory loss, impaired cognitive function and Alzheimer’s Disease.

Jalapenos
Capsaicin is the active ingredient in Jalapenos. Capsaicin relieves congestion, lowers high blood pressure, fights inflammation, fights inflammatory bowel disease, treats arthritis, treats psoriasis, treats diabetic neuropathy and also drives prostate cancer cells to kill themselves!

Limes
Limes contain flavonoid compounds that have antioxidant and anti-cancer properties. Limes are an excellent source of vitamin C, one of the most important antioxidants in nature. Vitamin C is also vital for a strong immune system. Limes also contain the compound called limonoids, limonoids have shown to help fight cancers of the mouth, skin, lung, breast, stomach, and colon.

Cucumbers
Fresh cucumbers are mostly composed of water but they have some health benefits. The flesh of a cucumber is a good source of vitamins A, C, and folic acid. The hard skin is rich in fiber and contains a variety of minerals: magnesium, silica, molybdenum, and potassium. Studies have shown that silica, a trace mineral, contributes to the strength of our connective tissue.

Garlic
Extensive tests on humans have concluded that a regular intake of garlic can: Lower (but raise the good-type HDL cholesterol); Produce more "natural killer" cells in the blood that will tackle infections and tumors; Lower blood pressure; Reduce the risk of blood clots (that are responsible for most heart attacks and strokes); Destroy infection causing viruses and bacteria and reduce the risk of certain cancers, in particular, stomach cancers.

Peppers
The health benefits of peppers are well established. Eating peppers can: reduce respiratory illnesses; help asthmatics breathe more easily; control and often cure sinus and nasal passage problems; reduce headaches and provide a major source of vitamin C.

So if you like salsa and chips, tacos, burritos, or many other great Mexican dishes  -  you are not alone and salsa adds that explosive acidic taste that makes you come back for more, and more, and well you’ve been there done that. Salsa is also great on baked potatoes, nachos, eggs, white bean chili, salmon and just about anything you care to add it to.

So ENJOY your Maria Louisa Salsa with your favorite dishes and don’t forget to check out Maria’s special recipes.