Ketchup is the top condiment for several reasons.
It’s tasty, goes well with everything and it’s healthy, to boot!
While studies and health experts have been extolling the virtues of taking the recommended amount of ketchup each day, getting your fix from commercial-bought ketchup can prove to be harmful to your health.
You see, ketchup varieties from commercial stores do not contain all-natural ingredients.
They contain HFCS, or high fructose corn syrup, an additive that can cause harm if taken for a long time.
Moreover, high fructose corn syrup doesn’t have any nutritional value and causes a huge spike in blood sugar when taken in large doses.
It’s mostly used as an additive that extends the shelf life of foods such as soda, candy bars and condiments such as ketchup.
Let’s take a look at a side-by-side comparison of the benefits of naturally-made ketchup and one that contains HFCS.
The Dangers of High Fructose Corn Syrup
It’s a known fact that HFCS and cane sugar can cause harm to one’s health if taken more than 140 pharmacological pounds per year.
It may sound like much, but when you think about it, people often consume sodas, juices and sports drinks per day, and each one has an average of 17 teaspoons of sugar.
When you take one glass of soda or a drink that has artificial sweetener daily, the risk greatly increases.
Taking HFCS increases your risk of developing diabetes, stroke and other life-threatening illnesses.
High fructose corn syrup is artificial substances that are absorbed differently by the body.
More importantly, HFCS goes straight to your liver and triggers a phenomenon called lipogenesis, or the forming of fats and cholesterol, thereby making you more susceptible to chronic diseases, increased weight gain, leaky gut, inflammation and more.
HFCS contains contaminants that aren’t regulated by the FDA.
In one scientific study it was found that high fructose corn syrup contains chlor-alkali products and alarming levels of mercury and other toxins.
Lastly, high fructose corn syrup almost always indicates inferior food quality.
These products are more likely to contain empty calories, processed sugar and artificial ingredients, which aren’t good for the body.
On the other hand, opting for natural foods gives your body the fiber, essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants it needs to stay healthy.
Good thing there’s a way to make natural ketchup fast. It’s healthy, tasty and can be made with a handful of ingredients.
How To Make Your Own Ketchup Fast
Homemade ketchup can be created in as little as 2 minutes, using ingredients that you have lying around in your kitchen, fridge and cupboards.
When you make your own ketchup, you can be sure that there won’t be any high fructose corn syrup in it.
Better yet, all the ingredients are natural and the whole thing only takes two minutes, too!
All you’ll need are the following:
- – 1/4 cup of water
- – half a teaspoon sea salt
- – 1/4 teaspoon mustard
- – a tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar
- – a tablespoon of raw organic honey
- – 1 cup organic tomato paste
Step 1. Gather all the ingredients together.
Step 2. Mix everything in a bowl until it looks like ketchup.
Step 3. You’re done!
As mentioned, ketchup goes well with almost everything- your burger, chicken and anything else you can think of.
With daily servings of ketchup, you get lycopene, a phytochemical found in tomatoes, watermelons and cherries.
Lycopene is a known antioxidant that protects our bodies from the effects of free radicals.
When one gets too much free radicals in their body, the oxidative stress increases the risk of chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s, heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
Moreover, your heart will love its ability to increase good cholesterol (HDL) while lowering bad cholesterol (LDL) at the same time.
You get stronger bones, better neurological functions, reduced pain and improved eyesight. Now you’ll have more reasons to include this red gooey goop into your diet.
So, instead of reaching for that ketchup bottle on the supermarket shelf, why not DIY and make your own healthy ketchup at home? Your heart, body and health will thank you for it.
You consume less harmful high fructose corn syrup and more organic goodness, vitamins, antioxidants and minerals.
It’s a win-win situation for everyone. Try this 2-minute ketchup recipe today.
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