Photo illustrative
Store shelves are bent under the weight of various mayonnaises. Their manufacturers seduce buyers not only with the price, but also with the safe and natural composition of their products. Can these assurances be trusted? Not always. We tell you which three ingredients and who should avoid when buying mayonnaise. To do this, you should always look at the composition of the product on the package.
Mayonnaise main ingredients
Classic homemade mayonnaise consists of five ingredients – oil, eggs, mustard, vinegar or lemon juice, and spices. This is enough to make a delicious sauce for vegetable salad or other dishes.
However, many other compounds and substances can be found in store-bought products. Their main task is to improve the taste of this product, as well as extend its shelf life. All such additives are allowed for sale, which means they are safe for the health of consumers.
However, there is a certain group of ingredients that, although allowed, do not have a good effect on the body. Moreover, when consumed in excess, they can cause a lot of unpleasant problems, especially in people who suffer from intestinal hypersensitivity, writes Wprost. What should you pay special attention to?
Additive E385 in mayonnaise
E385 is a salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (ETDA). It is a synthetic food additive with preservative properties. It looks like a powder and dissolves easily in water. The additive prevents rancidity of fats, which manifests itself in the appearance of a specific odor and unpleasant taste.
E385 also allows sauces to retain their taste, color and texture for a long time. It can be found in almost every mayonnaise on the market today. Should it therefore be considered an indispensable ingredient in this type of product? In no case.
A good homemade mayonnaise does not need artificial stabilizers.
When consumed in reasonable amounts, calcium sodium salt does not adversely affect the body, but animal studies show that large doses of this ingredient are toxic. For example, they can cause discomfort in the stomach.
“I would advise people with sensitive guts, bloating and digestive upsets to beware of this supplement. They are at risk, and eating products with E385 in their case can exacerbate gastrointestinal problems, ”said Magda Stefaniak, a Polish certified nutritionist and eating disorder specialist.
Sunflower oil in mayonnaise
What could be wrong with this ingredient? After all, oil is the “basis” of mayonnaise. Of course, but in this case, the quality of the fat in question is very important.
Mayonnaise with sunflower oil is not a good choice due to its high omega-6 content. These compounds, consumed in excess, can cause inflammation in the body. It is better to give preference to mayonnaise with rapeseed oil, which is a valuable source of omega-3 fatty acids that are good for the heart.
sugar in mayonnaise
This ingredient is often found not only in desserts and sweets, but also in mayonnaise and many other products. Manufacturers add it to almost everything. However, excess sugar in the daily diet increases blood pressure as well as triglyceride levels in the body. Which, in turn, increases the risk of developing serious diseases such as atherosclerosis.
Therefore, it is better to refrain from buying sauces that contain “hidden” sugar, and choose those that are sweetened with honey. This is a much healthier alternative.
The order of the ingredients matters
When buying mayonnaise, pay special attention to one more thing – the order of the ingredients indicated on the product label. As a general rule, the higher a compound is on the list, the more it is in the product. In other words, the ingredient that comes first dominates the mayonnaise.