Ketchup is one of the most popular condiments on Earth. It is used by millions of people every day in a variety of nutritional (and non-nutritional ways). Ketchup is used for dipping french fries, covering meatloaf, and a number of other daily uses.

Ketchup is made from tomatoes and many people think that it is healthy to use right out of the bottle. However, there are some hidden dangers in this condiment.

In a lot of commonly purchased ketchup bottles, there are certain toxins that many people do not even know or suspect is there. For starters...

The Dangers of Ketchup

Ketchup is high in high fructose corn syrup. This is used to allow the ketchup to exit easily out of the bottle. Most of the ketchup itself is made from tomatoes that have been overcooked with added water and some form of corn syrup. High fructose corn syrup is not at all healthy.

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There are even brands that add "natural" flavoring, but this natural flavoring is often made up of chemicals, and one of the main chemicals used is MSG. 

Some companies have taken notice to the negative effects that corn syrup has on a person’s health. Back in 2010, ConAgra foods removed corn syrup from Hunt’s ketchup. This product did not sell well. Consumers did not respond to the taste of ketchup without corn syrup. Two years later corn syrup was put back in the mix.

Many people still do not know this but ketchup is extremely high in sugar. Just one tablespoon contains four grams of sugar. The average person uses much more than this in a single sitting. A person can be adding several grams of sugar to
their diet each day and not even know about it. This is some cause for concern.

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The sugar in ketchup is often even worse for you than table sugar (sucrose), because it is in the form of fructose. This can cause added weight gain and insulin resistance.

What's in Your Bottle?

Ketchup is filled with some basic ingredients, many of which can be extremely harmful to your health. They include tomato concentrate, distilled vinegar, high fructose corn syrup, regular corn syrup, salt, onion powder, and natural flavorings.

Besides the corn syrup there are other problems with ketchup. The salt that is used in this product is the cheapest salt that is available for consumption.

This salt can lead to conditions including high blood pressure, mineral imbalances in the body, and toxicity in bodily systems.

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A person may experience these effects if they eat too much salt or there is a large amount of salt in the ketchup. Additionally, ketchup states that it contains natural flavors, but these natural flavors are not listed on the label, or in nutritional facts.

Ketchup does not contain nutrients, fiber, or protein. There may be traces of tomato paste in ketchup, but that does not make it healthy by a long shot.

The tomato paste often contains cooked lycopene which is not able to be absorbed by the body. That's right—your ketchup may have inedible ingredients inside of it.

Heinz and Hunt's are not the only manufacturers of ketchup that are putting these toxic ingredients in their products and then sharing them with the open market.

There are other well-known brands that are selling products they call ketchup filled with sugar and high fructose corn syrup.

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Some brands of ketchup were even found to contain traces of mercury, which is highly toxic to the human body. These elements make one stop and wonder why.

The Bottom Line

For those that are looking to eat healthy, they should avoid ketchup altogether. There are some brands of ketchup on the market that are organic and non-GMO.

It may be hard to find these brands, but it is worth the extra effort. If a person loves the taste of ketchup but does not want the harsh chemicals and the added sugars there are many recipes that will allow a person to make ketchup in their own kitchen, to control what goes into it. You can also substitute other ingredients.

The simple point here is, it's okay to love the flavor and texture of ketchup, or even its uses in cooking and eating, but not at the expense of your health and the health of your family or friends. Look for healthier options, and enjoy the healthful reward!

READ NEXT >>> What Are They Putting in My Activia Yogurt?!

Sources

1. http://www.healthyfoodhouse.com/popular-ketchup-damages-liver-metabolism-immune-system-nervous-system-brain/