| Love tomatoes and pasta? Did you know they can be | | | | Mexican Pasta Serves 4 |
| combined to boost your immune system? This healthy | | | | Ingredients |
| pasta recipe does just that. | | | | - 1 tablespoon olive oil |
| Every day, your immune system battles the millions of | | | | - 3 green onions, thinly sliced |
| bacteria, microbes, toxins and viruses that try to invade | | | | - 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped |
| your body. But this complex and highly interactive | | | | - 1/2 lb lean ground beef or ground turkey |
| network of organs and specialized cells can help keep | | | | - 1 tablespoon chili powder |
| you healthy only if it's healthy itself. So how do you | | | | - 1/4 teaspoon salt |
| make sure your immune system stays strong? Along | | | | - 1 can (14½ oz) stewed tomatoes, chopped |
| with getting enough sleep and exercise, and keeping | | | | - 1 jalapeño pepper, finely chopped |
| your stress level down, a low-fat, high-fiber, nutrient-rich | | | | - 1/3 cup shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese |
| diet will keep your immune system in top-notch | | | | - 1/4 cup chopped cilantro |
| condition. Research suggests that the following | | | | - 8 oz package bow- or corkscrew-shaped whole |
| vitamins and minerals, in particular, regulate a wide | | | | wheat pasta |
| variety of immune system functions: | | | | Directions |
| - Vitamin A | | | | |
| - B-complex vitamins | | | | 1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain |
| - Vitamin C | | | | well and place in a large bowl. |
| - Zinc | | | | 2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add |
| - Selenium | | | | green onions and garlic and cook 30 seconds. |
| - Magnesium | | | | 3. Crumble in ground beef. Sprinkle with chili powder |
| While it's a good idea to take a vitamin and mineral | | | | and salt. Cook, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes, or |
| supplement to ensure you're getting the nutrition your | | | | until beef is no longer pink. |
| body needs, you obviously want to get as many | | | | 4. Add tomatoes and their juices, and jalapeño. |
| immunity-boosting nutrients as you can from the food | | | | Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium; |
| you eat. The following recipe, rich in the vitamins and | | | | cover and cook 5 minutes. |
| minerals listed above, offers a delicious way to keep | | | | 5. Pour sauce over pasta. |
| your immune system strong: | | | | 6. Sprinkle with cheese and cilantro. Toss to mix. |