Overview:
Store-bought tomato sauce or ketchup is a convenient staple in many kitchens, loved for its versatility in cooking and convenience. But most people are not aware from the side effects of store-bought tomato sauce.
However, like many processed foods, it can have various effects on health, ranging from nutritional considerations to potential side effects from additives and packaging.
In this comprehensive exploration, we’ll delve into the composition of store-bought tomato sauce, potential health implications, and tips for reducing health risks.
Table of Contents
Ingredients Used In Store-Bought Tomato Sauce:
- Sugar or sweeteners: Often added to balance the acidity of tomatoes and enhance flavor. Common sweeteners include cane sugar, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), or alternative sweeteners for low-sugar varieties.
- Salt: Used as a flavor enhancer and preservative. High sodium content is a concern for some consumers due to its association with hypertension and other health issues.
- Preservatives: Added to prolong shelf life and maintain consistency. Common additives include potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate.
- Distilled White Vinegar: It is used to preserve tomato sauce which is made from the fermentation of grain alcohol and it doesn’t contain any nutrition. It can lead to several health issues like heartburn, and liver and kidney problems.
Side effects of store-bought tomato sauce:
1. Heartburn or Acid Reflux:
Tomatoes are an acidic food that contains a lot of acids such as citric acids, malic acids, ascorbic acids, and oxalic acids.
When you consume tomatoes or tomato sauce, it can trigger acidity and thus lead to heartburn or acid reflux.
Even homemade tomato sauce contains many acids because these acids are found naturally in the tomatoes.
Therefore, it is advised that people with digestive problems should avoid tomato or tomato sauce.
2. Obesity:
Tomato sauce contains a lot of added sugar and preservatives like fructose corn syrup to balance acidity and enhance the taste which can lead to obesity.
Consuming too much tomato sauce can make your body resistant to insulin hormones and thus increase the risk of diabetes.
3. Allergies:
Some people may have allergies or sensitivities to ingredients commonly found in store-bought tomato sauce such as preservatives, artificial colors, or sweeteners.
Read the label and avoid the products containing ingredients that trigger allergic reactions.
4. Liver and Heart Diseases:
Tomato sauce contains high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), so when your body has more fructose your liver produces uric acid and fat in the form of triglycerides which can lead to liver diseases such as fatty liver disease and heart disease.
5. Joint Problems:
Foods that contain a lot of preservatives like flavor enhancers, and artificial sweeteners cause inflammation in the body which can lead to joint problems.
6. Kidney Stones:
One of the primary concerns with store-bought tomato sauce is its high sodium content. It is added for flavor enhancement and preservation.
Consuming high sodium-content foods causes you to lose more calcium in your urine.
Sodium and calcium share the same transport in your kidney so if you eat high sodium content foods it will increase the calcium leakage in the urine and thus can lead to kidney stones.
How to reduce health risks associated with tomato sauce:
To minimize potential health risks associated with store-bought tomato sauce, consider the following tips:
- Read Labels: Check the list of ingredients used in packed tomato sauce and avoid those with high fructose corn syrup or excessive sodium.
- Look for No Added Sugar Varieties: Select sauces that do not contain added sugars or sweeteners. Alternatively, choose products sweetened with natural alternatives like stevia or monk fruit.
- Consider Homemade Options: Homemade tomato sauces are free from chemicals, preservatives such as artificial color, flavor enhancers, and sweeteners.
- Consume In Limit: If you can’t avoid store-bought tomato sauce, then consume it in a small or limited amount.
- Check For BPA-Free Packing: Choose tomato sauces packaged in BPA-free cans or alternative packaging materials, such as glass jars.
The Bottom Line:
Store-bought tomato sauces are found in every kitchen. People slather it on almost everything from noodles to pizza.
But it has potential side effects on health including joint problems, obesity, allergies, liver and heart diseases, etc.
Incorporate homemade tomato sauce, or consume store-bought tomato sauce in limited or smaller portions to prevent the potential side effects of store-bought tomato sauce.