Ketchup is a staple in most kitchens and at the dinner table. That might make it hard to imagine kicking it out of your diet, but there are a few valid reasons to do just that. Despite how popular the condiment is, it might be affecting your liver, heart, and overall health.
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3 Reasons Ketchup Can Be Bad For Your Health
1. It Has Added Sugars
While the ingredients in ketchup can vary, they generally contain a fair amount of added sugar. This may take the form of refined sugar, brown sugar, or high fructose corn syrup depending on the brand.
Either way, you can end up consuming seven percent of the daily allowed value of sugar in just one tablespoon of ketchup.
When you consider how often you eat ketchup daily, it can really add up. It’s important to watch your added sugar intake as it has been shown to increase your risk of being overweight, developing type 2 diabetes, and general inflammation in the body.
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2. It Has A High Salt Content
Though you might not taste it, a tablespoon of ketchup typically contains seven percent of the allowed daily value. That translates to 154.2 mg each time you eat that amount.
According to doctors, you shouldn’t eat more than 2.300 mg of salt per day but the allowed quantity drops to 1,500 if you’re at risk for high blood pressure.
It might seem hard to pass that level but you have to bear in mind that unless you’re on a specific diet, you’re probably consuming way more salt than you realize. Too much salt has been shown to lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, osteoporosis, and strokes.
3. It’s A Processed Food
When you hear the term ‘processed foods’, you might only think about lunch meats and fast food. However, some types of ketchup technically fall into that category because of the preservatives, colors, and other additives that they contain.
Some of these additives can have a negative effect on your health. Your liver can be of particular concern because it’s