I’m so glad hot peppers are not considered unhealthy because I put hot peppers on almost everything I eat! I love chopping up some jalapeños and cooking them with my eggs or mixing them in with tuna. I don’t have a favorite hot pepper as I like them all. I won’t go near the habenero pepper too often as those are just way too hot even for me. I looked up some of the health benefits of peppers and was quite surprised to learn just how beneficial they can be. This is great news for all of the chili heads out there!

Chili Pepper Health Benefits
Chili peppers contain capsaicin which provides the pepper’s heat as well as being the primary reason for their many health benefits.

The capsaicin in peppers are known to:

• Increase body’s caloric burn rate
• Improve circulation
• Fight cancer
• Prevent food borne bacteria
• Improves digestion
• Relieve pain (muscle creams)
• Clear nasal passages (sinus relief)
• Arthritis relief

I was watching a program the other night about the human body and one of the topics included hot peppers. They stated that peppers produced capsaicin to ward off predators. Humans adapted to the pain and eventually turned the burning sensation into a “good” sensation in the brain. There was much more to it but that was the part I remembered.

The only thing I don’t like about chili peppers is when I don’t wash my hands well enough after cutting them up and end up rubbing my eye. Otherwise, I love them!

For me, there is nothing quite as satisfying as sipping a steaming, hot cup of green tea after a meal or while taking a break. It is a soothing experience and I enjoy it as a hot beverage more so than coffee. Green tea is a great supplement to any clean eating diet and here’s why:

Benefits of Drinking Green Tea

Green tea contains polyphenols which are antioxidants that help fight against free radicals. It also contains a compound known as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which helps protect against various forms of cancer.

Tea itself is a low calorie beverage so having it on a regular basis isn’t really an issue. While most teas have healthy benefits in general, green tea outranks them all in terms of benefits. This is because unlike other teas such as oolong, black, etc., green tea is unfermented leaving its healthy ingredients untouched from processing.

Here are some of the known health benefits of green tea:

• Lowers bad cholesterol and increases good
• Lowers blood pressure
• Known to fight certain types of cancer
• Boosts immune system
• Aids in weight loss by stimulating metabolism
• Improves digestion

What to Be Aware Of

If you are sensitive to caffeine you should be aware that 1 cup of green tea contains about 30 mg of caffeine. Also be aware that while it is generally a healthy beverage, too much of anything can cause harm. Drinking more than six cups of green tea per day may cause headaches, dizziness, sleeplessness, irregular heart beat, diarrhea, and vomiting. Opinions vary but I’ve found that 2 - 3 cups per day is the daily recommendation to obtain the health benefits.

The best way to drink green tea of course is by itself but if you must use a sweetener, you can opt for honey or stevia. If the taste of tea is not your thing but you want the benefits, you can also purchase green tea in pill form.

You may have already come across this, but if not, you definitely need to check this out. It is a list put together by MensHealth.com called “The Top 20 Worst Foods in America.” The list outlines many of the foods served by restaurants that we may all visit on occasion.

Although, the entire list wouldn’t dare be considered part of a clean eating diet, it’s still good to be aware of. Next time you are tempted to eat any of this junk, or see a friend chomping down on them, you can let them know about the damage they are about to do to their bodies!

One of my favorite breakfasts is egg whites with spinach, garlic, jalapeno, salsa and a bowl of oatmeal. I eat this on most mornings and it’s so easy to make. First I start heating up my pan and add a little bit of olive oil. I chop up my garlic and jalapenos (I like spicy food) and toss those into the pan. I immediately add in the spinach and give it about a minute before I pour in my egg whites.

I top my eggs off with salsa but usually only if my mom has made some recently because it’s soooo good! The stuff in the jars just doesn’t compare to home made.

I also add a pinch of salt and pepper for taste. While I’m doing all of that my oatmeal is cooking along side of it in another pot and as it gets done, I add in a dash or two of cinnamon. The entire breakfast probably takes less than 10 minutes to cook.

It fills me up and I’m satisfied until my next meal. I think this is one of the easiest breakfasts to fit into the morning with a little preparation. What’s your favorite eat clean breakfast?

I stumbled onto flax seed oil after a good friend of mine was given the suggestion of taking it by her personal trainer. Right around this time, I was diagnosed with eczema. I figured I’d give flax seed oil a shot too just to be “healthier” not expecting it to help clear up my eczema. After several weeks of taking flax seed oil each day, I began to notice the trouble areas of my skin beginning to clear up and smooth out.

The dry, itchy, flaky skin was disappearing. Taking flax seed oil had already become a habit so I actually had to ask myself what I was doing different in my diet. After I realized it was the flax seed, I immediately looked up some of the known benefits of taking it:

• Rich source of Omega-3 fatty acids
• Rich source of lignan
• Helps lower cholesterol
• Helps protect against high blood pressure
• Improves calcium absorption
• Helps treat Eczema, Psoriasis, and Dandruff
• and much more!

Results vary of course and what works for one person may not work for another. The benefits definitely outweigh any chance of negative side effects but it’s always good to ask your doctor if you can take flax seed oil on a daily basis. As for myself, I am a fan and will continue to consume it. The taste is pretty bad so I usually take it by the tablespoon and chase it with some fruit juice. It’s also great to blend in with your favorite protein shakes or smoothies.

There are about 120 calories per tablespoon of flax seed oil so if you are counting calories, don’t forget to add it in. It’s easy to overlook since it is a supplement.