Most store-bought salad dressing is unhealthy.
Store-bought salad dressing is probably the last thing you would suspect to contain toxic ingredients. It does. The following toxic ingredients are good reasons to avoid purchasing salad dressing.
1. Cheap, highly processed oils
Processing strips the oil of nutrients. It also adds potentially toxic processing chemicals. Examples of processed oils are: vegetable, soybean, and canola.They are far from healthy. They are high in omega-6 fatty acids which can be inflammatory. Most are genetically modified. Even when the label indicates made with olive oil, most store-bought salad dressings still contain soybean or canola oil as cheap fillers.
2. Sweeteners and sodium
Sweeteners are a common ingredient in store-bought salad dressings because water is often added as a filler. So, added sweeteners are a way to add flavor. Some manufacturers use sugar as the sweetener. Many, however, use High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS), likely because it is cheaper. Studies indicate that HFCS can contribute to several health risks including increased abdominal fat.
Sodium levels in store-bought salad dressings can be extremely high, once again, due to the use of water as a filler and the need to deliver more flavor.
3. Artificial ingredients
Artificial colors are used to make the salad dressing look more appealing. There is not much color In cheap oil and water! Common artificial colors used include:
- caramel color
- FDC yellow #5 & yellow #6
- titanium dioxide (the same compound used to make paint brighter)
Also, in “light” varieties of store-bought salad dressing, artificial sweeteners are often used.
4. Stabilizers/emulsifiers
Manufacturers must give the salad dressing consistent texture. The only way to do this is with more additives. Water and oil do not naturally remain mixed together. The additive most used for this in store-bought salad dressing is xanthan gum. New research finds xanthan gum may have an adverse effect on our gut.
5. Preservatives
Although homemade salad dressing will keep for months in your refrigerator, it will not last long on a shelf. Therefore, manufacturers must use preservatives in their salad dressings. Some preservatives you will want to avoid include:
- potassium sorbate
- calcium disodium EDTA (known to cause skin reactions and GI upset)
- sodium benzoate (research links to hyperactivity and behavior problems in children)
Don’t ruin your next healthy salad by pouring junk on it. Especially, when there are so many tasty alternatives.
See some quick, tasty, less expensive alternatives here.
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