4 Health Benefits of Authentic Mexican Food
In the states that border Mexico, from California to Texas, authentic Mexican restaurants have long been a staple of the dining industry. The food in these establishments is often seasoned and prepared using the same recipes that cooks in Mexico have used for centuries. But as satisfied as we might feel after gorging from a tasty combo plate, there is sometimes a lingering feeling that the Mexican food we just ate wasn’t the healthiest food in the world.
In the 1990s, people began to pay more attention to food and how it affects our health. Mexican fast-food chains were using canned vegetables, frozen beef and chicken and factory-produced tortillas for their meals. The entrees were loaded with unsaturated fats. For example, a Grilled-Steak Stuft Burrito at one a well-known fast food chain, for instance, has 980 calories in the entree alone.
Several crafty entrepreneurs recognized that the word fresh was a key ingredient to authentic Mexican food. When new restaurant chains burst onto the restaurant scene with “fresh Mexican food” as their core business, the game changed forever.
Fresh food is now a key component necessary for success in the Mexican food industry. Because fresh goes hand-in-hand with healthy, the emphasis on serving healthy as well as tasty Mexican food has never been greater.
While the rise of healthy has made it’s way around the country, restaurants like Benito’s in Fort Worth, Texas have been serving fresh and authentic Mexican food all along. Benito’s uses only fresh vegetables, fruits, dairy, and meats in the kitchen. Whenever possible, they use local sources to ensure their ingredients are garden and ranch fresh. Vegetable oil, for the most part, has replaced fatty lard in most of their frying operations. They will always substitute whole beans for refried beans upon request. What’s most important in this emphasis on healthy food is that the taste and quality, rather than suffering, has actually improved in most cases.
In addition to paying close attention to the quality of ingredients, check out these four health benefits found in your next authentic Mexican meal.
Heath Benefits of Mexican Food
1. Soluble Fiber
Soluble fiber helps food to move through your digestive tract more quickly for healthy elimination and helps lower blood cholesterol and glucose levels. Whole beans, especially black and pinto, are rich in fiber and are more nutritious than refried beans. A 1/2-cup of whole beans will supply up to 7 grams of fiber and a healthy amount of protein.
2. Vitamins & Minerals
Vitamins and Minerals are essential for maintaining a healthy body. Fresh tomatoes and onions, key ingredients in salsa, are rich in vitamin C. Avocados, the mail ingredient of guacamole, are an excellent source of heart-healthy unsaturated fats and pantothenic acid, vitamin K, copper, folate, vitamin B6, potassium and vitamin E.
3. Capsaicin
Capsaicin is the substance that generates the heat in spicy peppers and chilies. It can be a helpful in the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer, according to the American Association for Cancer Research. Capsaicin is also helpful in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels and relieving the congestion of common colds and allergies.
4. Protein
Protein is necessary to increase your energy level and keep muscles and tissues healthy. Meats, like chicken a beef found in Benito’s delicious fajitas and cheese, eaten in moderation, are a good source of protein.
To try out some healthy and authentic Mexican food in Fort Worth, give Benito’s a try at 1450 West Magnolia, visit us online or call (817) 332-8633.
