What comes to mind when you think of the word, “diet?” You’re probably envisioning broccoli, celery, and maybe a plain old chicken breast if you’re lucky. But generally, the foods associated with weight loss are raw and slightly bland, and while fruits and veggies are definitely healthy, they’re probably not always what you want to eat every time you’re hungry.
If the thought of diet food made you squirm, keep reading. One of the most overlooked weight loss secrets isn’t necessarily low-carb, gluten-free, or even bad tasting. If you’re trying to lose weight but not flavor, I have two words for you: spicy food.
Spicy food has health benefits that many people aren’t aware of; eaten with a balanced diet and regular exercise (which everyone should be doing whether they’re dieting or not!) it can do everything from help with weight loss to improve your heart function. Sounds a lot better than celery, right?
Let’s take a look at what spice can do: first of all, spicy foods help you eat less, which typically leads to weight loss. Foods like hot sauce, chilies and red pepper flakes have all been shown to boost metabolisms and reduce the amount people eat. Adding spice to diet food also makes bland food more enjoyable, making it more likely that you’ll stick to your diet. Spicy foods have also been linked to fewer heart issues and can reduce negative effects of bad cholesterol. In the Indian spice turmeric, the yellow color is caused by curcumin, an ingredient that helps repair muscles post-workout and cleans out plaque deposits from your brain so you’re less likely to experience memory loss later in life. Spice can also assist with improving heart health, preventing cancer and lowering blood pressure: all things that are sure to make you healthier. Try incorporating traditionally spicy foods like Indian and Mexican recipes into your diet to start feeling the good effects.
But the most best part about spicy foods? They cause your brain to release endorphins, making you happier and feeling great. Healthy and a mood-booster! What more reason do you need to add some spice to your diet?
The following recipe will make you even happier because it’s a mix of two of everyone’s favorites — Mexican and Italian.
Fiesta Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 8 ounces dry spaghetti, uncooked
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 2 cans (8 oz each) tomato sauce
- 1 can (10 oz each) Ro*Tel® Original Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies, undrained
- 1 can (15 oz each) black beans, drained, rinsed
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
Directions
- Cook spaghetti according to package directions, omitting salt.
- Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion; cook 5 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally.
- Add sauce, undrained tomatoes, beans and cumin. Simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Drain spaghetti; add to skillet and toss with tomato mixture.
Cooking Tips
- Customize the recipe by adding in your family’s favorite vegetables like corn or diced bell peppers.
- Breaking the spaghetti in half will make the mixing process much easier.
- If you really like the spice, try Ro*Tel’s Hot variety of diced tomatoes with habaneros.
Visit Ro-Tel.com for more delicious recipes. Ro*Tel is a zesty addition to everything from queso dips to chili and more!
