Salsa spice holds health benefits

[Sequoia]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Another reason to eat spicy foods: cilantro, an herb key to many cuisines and central to salsa, can kill food poisoning bacteria, researchers said on Tuesday.

U.S. and Mexican researchers said they had identified a compound in cilantro that kills harmful Salmonella bacteria. They hope it can be developed into a safe food additive that could help prevent foodborne illness.

The study, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, shows why salsa, a staple of Mexican food, and many other spicy foods seem to have innate antibacterial activity. It fits in with other studies done over the years that show popular spices can keep food from spoiling.

The compound, called dodecenal, is found in the fresh leaves and the seeds of cilantro, also known as coriander.

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http://www.cnn.com/2004/HEALTH/05/26/health.salsa.reut/index.html

[chookie]

1. I LOVE cilantro

I put it in everything. It's my favorite herb.

I cook Indian, Thai, Greek, Mexican and Chinese -- cuisines that all use cilantro liberally.

I don't know about the others, but Chinese and indian traditions think of food as "medicinal" -- and include ingredients that bring about good health and take care of imbalances caused by stress and disease. All hail the holy trinity of Garlic, Onions and Ginger! -- to which I would add the beautiful herb cilantro.

[forgethell]

2. All right, then.

Good news. And screw the fat police. Eat what you want, in moderation. No McDonald's tax. Yes to vending machines in the schools selling chips.

And pass the PACE Picante Sauce for those chips.

:9

[sus]

3. I like Sporty Spice

she's the bomb.