FoodNutrition

Mexican Tajín Seasoning Packs Major Anti-Inflammatory Benefits (and We Have Yet To Find a Dish We Don’t Want To Shower It On)

Discover the vibrant taste of Tajín, a highly flavorful, popular Mexican seasoning blend made with anti-inflammatory ingredients.

alt
Photo: Stocksy/Jeff Wasserman
Updated Jul 27, 2023

Written by 

Maki Yazawa

IYKYK: Everything tastes 100 times better with just a little sprinkle of Tajín. This Mexican seasoning—made from a perfectly-balanced blend of dried red chilis, salt, and dehydrated lime juice—adds the perfect amount of saltiness, zestiness, and spiciness to anything from fresh fruit and corn to tacos, ice pops, tortilla chips, and margaritas.

By the way, in addition to its ability to instantly transform a bland dish into something that’ll tantalize every single one of your taste buds, Tajín also packs major anti-inflammatory benefits. If you’re ready to learn more about the rich history of Tajín, its many health benefits, and how to use it in every dish you serve, read on.

What is Tajín, and where did it come from?

The story goes that Tajín was born on December 23, 1985 in Guadalajara, a western city in Mexico. The product had a humble start, with the owners selling the bottles one by one to local stores before expanding their business. After finding great success in the Mexican market, Tajín made its way to the United States in the early ’90s. At the start of the 2000s, the product underwent some minor makeover adjustments and began exploring its worldwide potential in continents like Europe, Asia, and Africa. Today, the product can be found in more than 30 countries globally, and proudly represents some of the bold and delicious flavors of Mexican cuisine. According to the Tajín website, the product is now produced in Zapopan, Mexico, a neighboring city of Guadalajara.

Is Tajín spicy?

As mentioned, it’s made from a simple blend of chili peppers, lime, and sea salt. BTW, don’t be fooled by the chili pepper base and the bright red hue that might make you think Tajín is ghost-pepper-level spicy—rest assured, it’s not. This Tajín seasoning spice is made with mild chili peppers that pack all the flavors with a modest amount of heat, perfect for flavoring just about anything.

What does Tajín taste like?

The ingredient list for the classic version of Tajín is simple: It consists of mainly sea salt, mild (emphasis on the mild) chili peppers, and lime. Although the recipe may sound rather basic, the combination of these flavors is like no other. Like the foundation of many of the best recipes, this popular condiment has it all: Namely, salt, acid, and heat.

Upon the first bite, you’ll get the umami richness of the sea salt mixed with the smokiness of the chilis. (There’s no denying that Tajín is rather salty, which should be taken into account when adding it to a recipe.) But what makes this staple even more enticing for the taste buds is the lime which adds the perfect level of acidity to balance out the richness of the chilis and the salinity of the sea salt. The combination of these three ingredients helps enhance just about anything it touches.

What makes Tajín anti-inflammatory?

One of the primary ingredients in this seasoning is chili pepper, which also happens to be one of the best anti-inflammatory spices out there; It’s right up there with turmeric, black pepper, cloves, oregano, and rosemary. Chilis, which get their heat from an anti-inflammatory compound called capsaicin, can help with vascular and metabolic health, work to combat symptoms of free-radical damage in the body, and some findings suggest that they may have anti-carcinogenic properties as well. And according to the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions report that analyzed diet and mortality data from four large international studies, consumption of chili pepper may reduce one’s relative risk of cardiovascular disease mortality by 26 percent.

advertisement

Oh, and did we mention it’s one of those spices that make you poop? Can we love Tajín even more? I think not.

How to use Tajín

Although everyone has a different *favorite* way to use this condiment (mine is showered over fresh mango slices), know that Tajín can be used to season both sweet and savory dishes alike. Ahead we share several ways to incorporate Tajín into your cooking. And believe us when we say it’s nearly impossible to go wrong with it.

1. Serve Tajín on fruit

For starters, it can make fruits like oranges, watermelon, mangoes, and pineapples taste even more vibrant and tangy. In Mexico, it’s common to find small, pop-up stands selling fruit cups filled with mango, watermelon, pineapple, and jícama, to name a few, garnished with loads of Tajín. And for even more spice and tanginess, folks will also drizzle Chamoy sauce, which is also a popular, bright-red Mexican condiment made of dried chilies, lime juice, and fruit—usually mangos, apricots, or plums. The sauce’s sweet, tangy, tart, and spicy taste pairs perfectly with the acidity and saltiness of the Tajín; together, they’re the ideal umami-rich pair. Okay, we’re officially drooling. 

2. Top fresh veggies with Tajín

We also recommend adding Tajín to vegetables like corn on the cob, potatoes, avocados, cucumbers, and carrots to entice the picky eater in the family. Have guests coming over? Up the ante by loading up a would-be-basic crudités platter featuring cuts of carrot, jícama, cucumber, and celery with Tajín that can quickly transform a bland veggie into a party-ready snack. To help balance the tang and spice of the seasoning, pair the veggies with a creamy dip to temper down the heat or a heaping bowl of mild guacamole.

advertisement

For a more traditional approach, you can also make esquites or elotes (grilled Mexican street corn) with a schmear of something creamy like mayo, sour cream, or crema, served with Mexican cotija cheese, a squeeze of lime, and a sprinkling of Tajín. Does that sound good or what?

3. Season your proteins with Tajín

Contrary to popular belief, Tajín isn’t solely meant for sprucing up a bowl of fruit. Instead, we’re strong advocates for getting highly creative with this seasoning and using it to flavor your favorite forms of protein. How to use Tajín seasoning on chicken, you may ask? Well, swap it out for your go-to condiments on the spice rack (your Trader Joe’s Lemon Pepper could really use a break) and use it in the same way you would any other spice blend. The only thing to keep in mind is that Tajín has salt, which means you won’t need to add too much, if any at all, in addition to it. Aside from chicken, you can also add a dash of it to grilled burgers (why not?!), pan-seared fish, or even grilled shrimp. Yum, yum, and yum.

What food is Tajín good on?

Truly, the choice is yours. No matter the combination, it’s nearly impossible to go wrong with Tajín.  Whether it’s a dash of it on grilled chicken, fish, sour cream, guacamole, or as a topping on soup, it always adds a little je ne sais quoi. Plus, if you’re in the mood for something a little hotter, you may be pleased to learn that the popular seasoning comes in other (spicier, ooh la la) flavors too. Say hellooo to Tajín Habanero Seasoning, made with habanero peppers that certainly pack the hot, hot, heat. Or their Tajín Clásico Seasoning Reduced Sodium, made with 37 percent less salt than their OG recipe, so you can take full control over the saltiness of your dish. (Not to mention the perfect excuse to add it to desserts.)

Tajín plus these gut-friendly black bean tostadas? Talk about a match made in heaven:

Sign Up for Our Daily Newsletter

Get all the latest in wellness, trends, food, fitness, beauty, and more delivered right to your inbox.

FoodNutrition

Hold Up: Is Your Nutrition App Working Against You?

Here are 6 warning signs experts say to watch out for when using nutrition and fitness apps.

High angle shot of fitness young Asian sports woman relaxing after working out, lying on yoga mat and using her smartphone against sunlight in the morning, reusable water bottle and headphones by her side.
Photo: Getty
Published Mar 7, 2025

Written by 

Korin Miller

Fitness and nutrition tracking apps provide an easy way to keep tabs on your health data. But new research suggests that you could accidentally work against your health goals when you use these platforms. 

advertisement

The scientific review, which was published in the journal Body Image, analyzed data from 38 studies on fitness and diet apps, along with symptoms people had while using them. The researchers ultimately found that people who used health and fitness apps regularly were more likely to struggle with disordered eating, body image concerns, and compulsive exercise. 

While it’s hard to say whether the concerning habits or apps came first, mental health professionals aren’t shocked by the findings. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll fall into damaging health habits if you use one of these apps, but this is an important association to at least be aware of, according to Hillary Ammon, PsyD, a clinical psychologist at the Center for Anxiety & Women's Emotional Wellness. 

Below, mental health providers break down why fitness apps can work against your health, plus warning signs that your use is venturing into unhealthy territory.

How are tracking apps working against your health goals?

There are a few things that could be happening here. “We don't necessarily know that diet and fitness apps ‘cause’ symptoms of disordered eating, body image concerns, and compulsive exercise,” says Isabella Anderberg, lead study author and researcher at Flinders University. Meaning, it’s entirely possible that people who already have concerns around eating and body image are drawn to the apps as a way to manage this, Anderberg says. 

But some apps can also create an environment that can be stressful, says Rebecca Boswell, PhD, a clinical associate professor of psychiatry and director of psychiatric services at Penn Medicine. “Diet and fitness apps set rules about how people should and should not eat and exercise,” she points out. “They are designed to provide praise for eating less and punishment for eating more.” Boswell also notes that these apps are also designed to encourage activity to compensate for eating.

Certain apps also offer guidelines that can be customized without flagging goals that aren’t medically or nutritionally sound, Boswell says. “Apps often default to very low-calorie recommendations, e.g. 1,200 calories, the recommended intake for a toddler, and do not raise flags when people lower their ‘budgets,’” she says. “They rarely focus on the quality, balance, and nutritional density of foods.”

These apps tend to center around numbers and setting goals, which can be “unhelpful” for some people, Ammon says. Some even contain images that push thinness as an ideal body type, which excludes the rest of the population, she adds. 

Who does this impact? 

Again, plenty of people use fitness and wellness apps with no issue, and the link between problematic health behaviors and this tech is still being explored. But certain people may be more susceptible to developing unhealthy behaviors while using fitness apps than others. 

People with a previous history of disordered eating or body image concerns should probably steer clear of these apps, Ammon says. “This is because these apps can bring greater focus to their eating habits, caloric intake, and weight,” she explains. “Individuals with disordered habits tend to track caloric intake or caloric deficits, as a means of controlling weight [and] these apps can enhance those tracking habits with real time metrics and reminders.”

People who have struggled with overtraining in the past may also be at risk of using these apps in an unhealthy way, says Eric Storch, PhD, professor and vice chair of psychology at Baylor College of Medicine. 

advertisement

But even if you don’t have a history of disordered behavior around food or exercise, Ammon says it’s still a good idea to keep an eye on how you react to fitness and health apps—especially if you tend to be very goal-oriented or have a type A personality. Boswell agrees. “People who are prone to perfectionism may have a harder time flexibly using these apps, especially because of their greater sensitivity to reward and punishment,” she says. “It’s very hard for some people to get feedback that they’re not getting an A+ in health behaviors, even when the healthier behaviors might be striking a balance and setting more moderate goals.”

What are the signs your app isn’t helping?

There are a few clues that your app isn’t being a positive force in your life.

  1. 1.
    Being rigid around your app is a big red flag. “When you start to seem like you ‘have to’ work out daily or ‘have to’ track every single calorie ingested or burned, it may be teetering with an unhelpful focus on these habits,” Ammon says. 
  2. 2.
    Feeling frazzled about not meeting certain goals can also be a warning sign that something is off, she says. “If you notice yourself getting anxious or distressed because you didn’t hit your move goal for a day, it may be worth exploring why you need to hit that goal daily,” Ammon says. 
  3. 3.
    Guilt is also an emotion to be wary of, Anderberg says. Meaning, while it’s OK to feel a little disappointed that you didn’t make a goal on any given day, you shouldn’t feel guilty about it.
  4. 4.
    This is more indirect, but is still important: Boswell recommends keeping tabs on your internal monologue when using these apps. “If you can’t stop thinking about food or activity, it’s time to take a break and listen to your body instead of an app,” she says. 
  5. 5.
    Negative lifestyle impact is also a big warning sign that this isn’t a good fit for you, according to Ammon. She cites examples like staying up late to burn 500 calories before the end of the day because you feel pressure to, or cancelling plans with friends because you feel like you need to fit in a workout that day as being problematic. 

How to use an app in a productive, healthy way

Ammon points out that there are risks and rewards to practically every decision you make in life, including using health and fitness apps. “Rewards can be an improved lifestyle and improved physical health,” she says. “For many, these apps can act as an accountability system with virtual rewards.” Focusing on the positive—as in, you’re doing the best you can to support your health and wellness—is a productive way to view these apps, she says. 

Storch also recommends trying to be flexible in how you use these apps, looking at them as more of a guide than what you have to do on any given day. “Approach these apps as a tool to achieve goals, but ones that should be used flexibly versus rigidly, and without angst motivating their use,” he says. 

Of course, if you start using an app and you find that you don’t have a good relationship with it, it’s OK to stop. “It’s important to approach them with some level of caution,” Boswell says. “However, not everyone will have a negative experience with diet and fitness apps, and some might find them to be a helpful tool.”

Sign Up for Our Daily Newsletter

Get all the latest in wellness, trends, food, fitness, beauty, and more delivered right to your inbox.

All Stories

Food
Cooking
Recipes

25 Immune-Boosting Comfort Food Recipes

Cozy, comforting, *and* full of all the vitamins and minerals you could need to get yourself to spring happy and healthy? Look no further.

by Christina Manian, RD
on Mar 8
soba noodles
Shopping

Yes, You *Do* Need a Pair of Barrel Jeans—Because They Look Amazing on Everyone

If you think barrel-leg jeans seem too bold for your wardrobe, don't knock 'em until you've tried 'em.

by Jamey Powell
on Mar 8
barrel jeans trend
Shopping

The Best Wellness Sales This Weekend: Athleta, Cozy Earth, and More

Bargain shoppers, Well+Good is surfacing the best sales this weekend that you won’t want to miss. Ready, get set—shop!

by Khuyen Dinh
on Mar 7
alt
Health

It’s Time To Stop Believing These 7 Myths About Endometriosis

The biggest? That your pain is normal.

by Tabitha Britt
on Mar 7
person lying on their back on their bed while wearing a white tank top and light blue jeans, holding their stomach and worrying about endometriosis myths keeping them from getting diagnosed
Food
Nutrition

Hold Up: Is Your Nutrition App Working Against You?

Here are 6 warning signs experts say to watch out for when using nutrition and fitness apps.

by Korin Miller
on Mar 7
High angle shot of fitness young Asian sports woman relaxing after working out, lying on yoga mat and using her smartphone against sunlight in the morning, reusable water bottle and headphones by her side.