Cinco De Mayo: Spice Up Your Self-Care

In honor of Cinco De Mayo the Sonäge team is bringing you our favorite spicy guacamole recipe. Who doesn’t love guacamole?  Well, we realize that there are a few of you out there, but even you may be convinced to give it a try (again), once you learn about the myriad benefits of its ingredients (Avocados, Tomatoes, Cilantro, Chilies and Lime). Spicy Guacamole Recipe: Mash avocados in large mixing bowl, but leave slightly rough for more texture. Add onions, tomatoes, cilantro, and lime juice. Depending on your spice preference, mix in the chilies to taste. Add a bit of sea salt or black pepper as needed. Enjoy! Ingredients: 4 large avocados, peeled and pitted 1/2 cup finely chopped onion 1/2 cup chopped plum tomatoes 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro 2 serrano chilies or 2-3 jalapenos, finely diced 1 tablespoon lime juice Ingredient Benefits: Avocados are full of antioxidants like carotenoids (yellow, orange and red pigments that give food their color), vitamin E and vitamin C. One carotenoid in particular, lutein, really packs a skin-loving punch by promoting the water content and elasticity of our skin, while decreasing the rate of destruction of beneficial skin lipids. Tomatoes are a rich source of lycopene. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that also has the ability to defend your skin against UV radiation. This is due in large part to its unique molecular design, which is responsible for lycopene's red appearance, and its ability to block UV light. Tomatoes have the added bonus of enabling your skin to take in oxygen, which helps to delay aging and wrinkling (amen). Cilantro is full of beneficial phytonutrients (protective nutrients or chemicals in plants) and antioxidants. One phytonutrient, the flavonoid quercetin, regenerates vitamin C after neutralizing a free radical, thus helping to restore vitamin C’s antioxidant properties. (A reminder of why we don’t love free radicals: Free radicals have the potential to damage the DNA of our skin cells - and all other cells in our body - and destroy the collagen and elastin that provide tautness and elasticity to skin) Chili Peppers, both sweet and hot, are a great sources of vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin K, vitamin B6, choline as well as foliate. Vitamin C is a potent water-soluble antioxidant that is required for collagen synthesis inside throughout the body, including of course, our skin. Chilis are also full of potassium, calcium, and magnesium, as well as the alkaloid compound capsaicin, which has anti-bacterial, anti-carcinogenic, analgesic and anti-diabetic properties. Note to self: eat more chili peppers. Limes help rejuvenate our skin and protect it from infections thanks to their antioxidant, disinfectant and antibiotic properties. And, Vitamin C and flavonoids in lime juice help reduce body odor and sweat. Try mixing some lime juice in your bath water for a rejuvenating bath experience. Limes even help treat bruises and rashes when you applied to the skin.