There is a real fight about whether mayonnaise is healthy to consume or not. On the one hand, people are used to this condiment and they are also used to thinking that it’s healthy. On the other hand, modern mayo may not always be 100% organic and additive-free.
Where is the truth? Shall we forget about mayo for all?
Let’s investigate how the things truly are!
Is Mayo Our Best Friend?
Can you imagine a salad or a sandwich without this rich, delicious condiment? Hardly so! Mayonnaise has been one of the most popular and widely used foodstuffs in many families all over the globe for decades! People used to buy it, and they still do, regularly, and some even preserve it for later use.
Its creamy smooth texture and slightly sour taste make it just perfect for almost any dressing and dip. In addition, many of us make use of it when preparing homemade sauces.
No wonder that, when scientists start talking about mayonnaise being harmful to our health, consumers met this news skeptically.
Nevertheless, things might not be that simple and unequivocal! Let’s try to figure out whether modern mayonnaise is indeed a hazard or a tasty treat.
1. Shall we start with the condiment’s beneficial traits?
As you probably know, originally mayonnaise is produced from eggs, oil, lemon juice (that is occasionally replaced with acetum), and various seasonings. Since all the components are natural, homemade mayo is absolutely safe to consume.
Of course, it can’t be kept for long due to the short lifespan since there are no preservatives, but it also contributes to the product’s safety.
In addition, fresh homemade mayo has plenty of healthy qualities!
Mayonnaise helps to absorb nutrients much better since many vitamins need fat to be properly absorbed. As long as this condiment is pretty rich in healthy fats, it copes with the task perfectly
Fresh organic mayo contributes to lowering the level of cholesterol since the product contains from 70 to 85 percent of unsaturated fats.
In addition, the homemade condiment is rich in vitamins E and K, as well as in potassium and other minerals. These components make mayo a superpower against aging, free radicals, and for improving metabolism
Sounds great, and if we are talking about a homemade condiment that includes natural components only, all these beneficial qualities will be present.
However, most of us don’t waste time on making mayo ourselves, preferring to purchase a packet in a shop.
Does it make any difference? In fact, it does!
2. Cons of consuming mayo (store-purchased)
If it’s a commercially produced condiment, it’s a totally different thing. Since this product contains many preservatives and stabilizing components to prolong its lifespan, the quality level of such foodstuff decreases significantly compared to the self-made one.
Store-sold mayonnaise doubles the amount of fat in any dish it’s added to.
Since commercial mayo is rich in Omega-6 fats and has less Omega-3, consuming it often may develop heart diseases, Type 2 diabetes, and even become a reason of cancer!
Fat-free commercial mayo contains much more sugar than needed for our body which may lead to excess weight.
The commercial condiment is stuffed with artificial additives that don’t exist in a homemade counterpart. Preservatives, glutamates, stabilizers - all of them make it last longer but don’t make it healthier to consume. Some consumers report side effects like nausea, headaches, and weakness after eating that mayo from a shop.
Obviously, it’s everyone’s personal choice which product to consume but think twice before purchasing a jar of artificial mayo. Maybe, looking for an organic product would be better?
Take care!
Luckily, my local store carries 2-3 choices of clean &/or organic mayo
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