Easy as “ABC” Salsa

Did you know that February is American Heart Month? The purpose is to raise awareness of heart disease, which is the leading cause of death among both men and women (sorry to be a Debbie Downer). But fortunately, one super easy way to help prevent heart disease is to choose foods with heart-healthy benefits!

Enter my shamefully simple but super delicious Easy as “ABC” Salsa!

ABC stands for avocado, black bean, and corn. I most chose to name it that though cause it sounded better than “Heart-Healthy Salsa,” don’t you agree? 

What makes this salad so heart-healthy? Well almost every ingredient has at least one nutrient that decreases your risk of developing heart disease.

Avocado and Olive Oil: Although 1 avocado has about 30 grams of fat, the majority of the fat is monounsaturated fat, which helps decrease LDL (artery clogging) cholesterol and increase HDL (artery clearing) cholesterol. Similarly, the majority of the fat in olive oil is monounsaturated.

Black Beans: Protein-packed legumes, including black beans, chickpeas, and kidney beans, are full of soluble fiber, which has been shown to help decrease levels of LDL cholesterol. Make sure to rinse and drain canned beans to lower the amount of sodium added to your salsa!

Corn and Tomatoes: Vegetables, such as corn and tomatoes, contain important nutrients that may decrease your risk of developing heart disease. Corn contains fiber and protein, while tomatoes have been shown to help lower total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. Just like the beans, make sure the drain and rinse the corn, if using canned corn, to minimize added sodium.

Garlic, Cilantro, Lime juice, and Cumin: The ingredients in the dressing really make the salsa by adding lots of flavor and minimizing the need for tons of salt. Garlic may also have cardiovascular benefits.

Enjoy this salsa over fish or chicken, in a wrap, or alone (it is after all a great combination of protein, healthy fats, and fiber)! This time, I added mine on top of taco salad 

So make the tasty and smart choice this month and protect your heart with this delicious salsa! Enjoy!

Easy as “ABC” Salsa
Ingredients
-1 avocado, diced
-1 15 oz can of black beans, drained and rinsed thoroughly
-1 15 oz can of corn, no salt added, drained and rinsed thoroughly
-1 large tomato or 3 Roma tomatoes, seeds removed, chopped
-1/3 c cilantro, chopped
-Juice and zest of 1 lime
-1/2 tbsp olive oil
-1-2 garlic cloves, minced
-1 tsp cumin
-Salt and black pepper, to taste

Directions
1. Mix the first 4 ingredients in a large bowl.
2. Mix the cilantro, lime juice, lime zest, olive oil, garlic, and cumin in a small bowl.
3. Toss dressing with corn mixture. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Serve chilled. Enjoy!