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Many people don’t realize that eating well isn’t just about the foods you eat – it’s also about the dressings you put on the foods you eat. For example, a green salad is full of vitamins and minerals, while low in carbs and fats, but if you cover a salad with too much creamy dressing, you’re negating many of the healthy benefits your salad provides.
And the same holds true with other types of foods and condiments too. In fact, one of the most popular condiments is also one of the worst for you, experts have told SheFinds. And most people will be pretty disappointed to learn that now is the time to give up ketchup.
Why You Should Stop Buying Ketchup
Many people don't realize that for every tablespoon of ketchup, there is one teaspoon of sugar,” Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Shena Jaramillo told SheFinds.
“Many people think they are also getting a more nutritious product when choosing organic, but these products contain the same nutrient profile. This can add to a lot of additional calories throughout the day, especially if ketchup is used frequently. It can also spike blood sugars for diabetics.”
In reality, ketchup is loaded with artificial ingredients, heavy on the sugar and basically fills you with extra calories your body doesn’t actually need. This means that eating ketchup can make weight loss extra tricky, according to Matt Gaedke of food blog Keto Connect.
Gaedke explained, “One tablespoon of ketchup has 5 grams of carbs, 4 of which are high fructose corn syrup. And really, how many people are using just one tablespoon of ketchup for their meal?”
Ketchup contains high amounts of added sugar, which is something we all should really stay away from.
Trista Best, Registered Dietitian at Balance One Supplements, told SheFinds, “Too much added sugar in the diet will increase the amount of calories consumed and simultaneously increase one's risk for chronic disease. Gut health can begin to take a toll as well as a diet high in sugar promotes gut dysbiosis and imbalance of gut bacteria.”
The American Heart Association recommends we limit our sugar intake to six teaspoons per day for women, and nine teaspoons per day for men. So cutting down on the added sugars is a must.
If you really don’t want to give up ketchup entirely, there is a solution that can keep ketchup in your fridge: buying a low-sugar alternative. And most people don’t realize how easy this is to find.
“While manufacturers have started providing ketchup varieties without added sugar, most consumers continue to turn to ‘traditional’ ketchup out of preference and habit,” Best said. “Considering there are alternatives to traditional ketchup, it's ideal to opt for those instead.”
