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Is Ketchup Really That Unhealthy?

In addition to vinegar, salt and spices, industrially produced ketchup usually contains a lot of sugar. The share is sometimes up to 30 percent. These additional calories can actually be unhealthy if consumed regularly and in large quantities, as they can promote the development of obesity and the associated secondary diseases.

In return, ketchup contains the secondary plant substance lycopene. Ripe tomatoes are particularly rich in the natural red coloring and are preferably used for the production of the popular tomato sauce. The substance is said to have health-promoting effects, such as antioxidant properties and protection against cancer and heart disease. Lycopene from cooked or processed tomatoes can be better absorbed by the body than from fresh fruit because heating breaks down the cell walls.

However, the prescribed amount of processed tomatoes differs depending on the type of ketchup. While tomato ketchup must consist of at least 25 percent tomatoes, the proportion in spice ketchup may be less. The proportion of health-beneficial lycopene is correspondingly lower.

In addition to conventional ketchup, there are also organic products, some of which contain less sugar and calories. In addition, you can also make ketchup yourself and accordingly reduce the sugar content even further and save calories in this way. However, you cannot completely do without sugar for the production of the spicy tomato sauce, as it serves as a binding agent. In principle, ketchup should not be on the table with every meal and should remain an occasional luxury food – like our mozzarella sticks with ketchup. In this way, the calorie intake can also be kept within limits. Also make sure you eat a healthy, varied, and balanced diet overall.

Incidentally, lycopene is not only found in ketchup, but also in low-calorie alternatives such as tomato paste, tomato puree, and tomato passata. With these products, you can quickly and easily prepare a ketchup-like sauce with herbs and spices that accompanies your food without adding too many calories. Tomato juice and hot tomato sauces also contain lycopene and fewer calories than ketchup and are a healthy addition to the diet.

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Written by John Myers

Professional Chef with 25 years of industry experience at the highest levels. Restaurant owner. Beverage Director with experience creating world-class nationally recognized cocktail programs. Food writer with a distinctive Chef-driven voice and point of view.

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