Life is spiced up with variety. You can enhance the flavor of necessary, healthy foods by adding specific best condiments to your meals, making them more palatable, flavorful, and delightful.
However, not all condiments belong in your pantry or refrigerator. Many are high in sodium, sugar, calories, and artificial substances.
Some popular condiments are far better options than others when you look at their nutritional composition. What you need to know about the finest and worst condiments to have on hand is provided here.
Condiments: What Are They?
A condiment is something that “improves the flavor of food,” according to the dictionary. Condiments come in various flavors, from vinegar to herbs, spices, and seasonings.Â
The Latin term condimentum (or condire), which means “to season,” is where the word condiment derives from.
Here are the most popular condiments, those deemed “healthy” and those considered not to be.
Ketchup, mustard, relish, mayonnaise, and salad dressings are a few common condiments.
The quantity of salt, sugar, artificial additives, and preservatives used in the production of a particular condiment can make it a better choice than another.
Some of the best condiments offer nutritional benefits in probiotics, antioxidants, and other nutrients.
It is ideal if all of the condiments you eat fall into the following range:
- Low carbs and no added sugar (less than five grams per tablespoon)
- common salt (less than 70 milligrams per tablespoon)
- No hydrogenated oils or trans fats
- Devoid of artificial sweeteners
- very minimal or none at all preservatives
- no additional colors
- Most condiments, except for oils, have relatively modest calorie counts.
- Look for those with 30-60 calories per tablespoon or fewer unless you use salad dressing or extra virgin olive oil.
Related:Â Margarine vs. Butter: Which Is the Healthier Option?
The Top 10 Best Condiments for Your Kitchen
What types of seasonings and sauces may you include in your diet? The list of nutrient-dense herbs and spices free of dangerous ingredients is provided below.
Most of the foods listed below are also exceptionally low in carbohydrates, which makes them ideal for the Paleo diet or a low-carb keto diet food list.
1. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)
Many health-conscious cooks love using apple cider vinegar as an ingredient. Probiotics are present, and it is fermented. Acetic acid is a unique substance found in ACV that has antibacterial capabilities.
It can aid in the treatment of digestive problems and acid reflux. ACV also helps with diabetes, blood pressure control, and weight loss.
One of the oldest condiments is vinegar. More than 10,000 years ago, it was found! It’s advantageous for balancing the body’s pH level and improving digestive health because it delivers a solid acidity.
When you consider all the uses for apple cider vinegar, you can smuggle some into your everyday routine. Try using a little in marinades, sauces, smoothies, salad dressing, and cleansing tonic beverages.
2. Mustards
For a good season, mustard is one of the most consumed condiments worldwide. With very few calories, mustard seeds are a great source of taste and several phytonutrients.
Mustard seeds were regarded by the ancient Chinese as a natural aphrodisiac. Since then, mustard has been demonstrated to defend against the development of tumors and DNA or cell mutation.
Whatever variety you prefer—Dijon, gritty, or brown—mustard is widely available. It can be utilized in various ways to give homemade meals a strong “punch” of flavor and spice.
Consider adding some to salad dressing, using it as a marinate on proteins before cooking, or serving it with sweet potato fries.
Sweet honey mustards are one thing to avoid. More sugar (or high fructose corn syrup) may be used when making them than mustard seeds.
3. Hot Sauce
Nothing beats a decently spicy sauce if you enjoy a slight spiciness with your meat, beans, or eggs. Given that they include the chemical capsaicin, foods with spicy flavors like peppers and other fat-burning foods are known to improve the body’s capacity to burn fat.
The heat-producing element in hot peppers comes from this colorless plant component. It can be used to ease intestinal discomfort and reduce pain.
Capsaicin is concentrated in the pepper’s interior tissue containing the seeds. It is associated with advantages such as lowering cancer, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, inflammation, and weight gain.
Choose a high-quality brand that doesn’t include artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
4. Raw Honey
A fantastic natural sweetener is raw honey. Why? Raw honey has some astounding health advantages.
These include lowering allergies, enhancing acne, easing cold and flu symptoms, enhancing digestion, and lowering viruses or infections.
In addition to tasting delicious, it is renowned for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.
Use only a spoonful or less of raw honey per day in moderation. Try it in homemade sweets, marinades, sauces, or drizzled-on fruit.
5. Olive Oil
Unsaturated fats aid in adequately absorbing nutrients from salads and nutritious dishes that are fat-soluble, such as vitamins A, E, and K.
They also give you a fuller feeling. By using olive oil to make your full-fat marinade, dressing, etc., you avoid many artificial preservatives, sodium, and sugar hidden in packaged salad dressings.
6. Horseradish
Do you want a quick trick to make mashed potatoes, soups, dips, or sauces taste better? Consider including a tiny bit of horseradish. An excellent indicator of its nutritional content is its potent spiciness.
The spicy flavor of this root vegetable is due to the glucosinolate chemicals, which also impact the battle against cancer.
It works well as a natural sinus infection treatment. A little goes a long way when adding flavor to all dishes because each tablespoon has fewer than 10 calories and most brands have no added sugar.
7. Sauerkraut
Real, chilled sauerkraut is a fermented food dish that provides beneficial microorganisms for the digestive system.
Live active cultures are produced by probiotic foods, such as cultured vegetables like sauerkraut and kimchi, which aid in boosting the number of beneficial bacteria in the stomach.
A few advantages of good bacteria are appetite regulation, improved digestion, boosted immune system, and enhanced brain and hormonal function.
For instance, fermented veggies can be used to treat candidiasis. The probiotics in canned sauerkraut aren’t “alive,” so look for a refrigerated variety that says it hasn’t been processed.
8. Salsa
Although making fresh salsas from scratch is an excellent way to reduce sodium and preservatives, many store-bought varieties contain vital, high-quality ingredients.
These healthy nutrients include spices, tomatoes, onions, and jalapenos. For various flavors and even more spice, try putting tomato-based salsa on top of eggs, salads, tacos, or fish.
9. Tamari
Tamari is a gluten-free substitute for soy sauce. It is liquid. Like soy sauce, this condiment is renowned for its smooth flavor and adaptability.
Tamari differs from other sauces of a similar nature in more ways than only the absence of wheat. Additionally, it has a higher protein content, is simpler to prepare, and is less likely to have additives.
Tamari is made by fermenting soybeans; however, unlike traditional soy sauce, very little wheat is added to the process.
Tamari may give meals a salty, rich flavor by adding a dash to dishes. It performs amazingly well in stir-fries, dips, sauces, and salads. Be careful not to use too much because it contains a lot of salt.
10. Gochujang
You might not be familiar with this sauce, but if you like Korean and spicy food, you’ll adore it. Korean food regularly uses the fermented condiment gochujang, also known as red chili paste.
It is renowned for having a unique flavor. It has equal amounts of sweetness, savory, and heat.
Gochugaru (red chili powder), glutinous rice, salt, mejutgaru (fermented soybean powder), and yeotgireum are typical components used to prepare this red chili paste (barley malt powder).
The benefits of gochujang’s constituents include promoting fat loss, assisting in the prevention of heart disease, raising metabolism, lowering blood sugar, and combating inflammation, thanks to the abundance of antioxidants.
Condiments To Avoid
Sadly, many condiments you may buy in stores are made with processed oils, sugar, and sodium. The following is a list of some of the worst condiment components to stay away from:
- Fructose-rich corn syrup
- Cane sugar, fructose, barley malt, corn syrup, rice, other syrups, dextrose, diastatic malt, ethyl maltol, glucose solids, and many more forms of added sugar (which go by many various names) are all examples of added sugar.
- refined vegetable oils, such as maize, safflower, and sunflower oil
- Artificial sweeteners for shortening
- Benzoates of sodium and potassium
- Butylated anisole of hydroxyl (BHA)
- Nitrate or nitrate of sodium
- White wheat flour, corn flour, etc., depending on your diet
Types of condiments you should discard or leave on the shop shelf include:
1. Most Soy Sauces
You might be surprised to find soy sauce on a list of foods that are healthful but that you should never consume. It’s true that soy sauce doesn’t contain a lot of sugar or calories.
But it also contains a lot of sodium and, of course, soy! One of the most often genetically modified foods is soy, particularly soy produced in the United States.
Many people may ingest soy sauce in modest amounts, but it can affect hormones and cause gastrointestinal problems when consumed excessively.
Great alternatives include tamari and coconut aminos or liquid aminos. Additionally, search for low-sodium, organic soy sauce.
For adding Asian, soy-like flavors to foods without any soy risks or hidden gluten, use soy sauce instead of soy sauce.
2. Store-Bought Ketchup
There are only about 20 calories in one tablespoon of ketchup. The main issue is that it’s frequently made with artificial ingredients and a lot of sugar.
Use only one tablespoon of low-sugar organic ketchup as a better alternative.
Make your homemade ketchup from scratch instead! Fresh tomatoes and simple spices can be used to make ketchup easily. Additionally, it provides a small amount of tomato-derived antioxidant lycopene to your meals.
3. Agave Nectar
Agave nectar, a sweet syrup prepared from the agave tequiliana plant, is produced in Mexico. This may give the impression that agave is a natural, healthier alternative to cane sugar; however, much of agave’s marketing hype is currently being questioned.
We now know that agave is no healthier than other processed sweeteners and isn’t any lower in sugar. It was initially explicitly pushed as a healthy choice for diabetics because it’s supposedly lower on the glycemic index.
The naturally occurring agave liquids and almost all nutritional content are removed during the highly processed process of making agave. Furthermore, it has a higher fructose content than high-fructose corn syrup.
It is, therefore, exceedingly risky, especially for anyone with blood sugar issues! In general, HFCS and excessive amounts of added sugar are regarded as foods that cause discomfort because they might worsen inflammation.
Excess sugar raises your risk of health issues like obesity and diabetes by giving you a lot of empty calories, providing no nutritional benefit, and spiking your blood sugar.
4. Store-Bought BBQ Sauce
Agave nectar, a sweet syrup prepared from the agave tequiliana plant, is produced in Mexico. This may give the impression that agave is a natural, healthier alternative to cane sugar; however, much of agave’s marketing hype is currently being questioned.
We now know that agave is no healthier than other processed sweeteners and isn’t any lower in sugar. It was initially explicitly pushed as a healthy choice for diabetics because it’s supposedly lower on the glycemic index.
The naturally occurring agave liquids and almost all nutritional content are removed during the highly processed process of making agave. Furthermore, it has a higher fructose content than high-fructose corn syrup.
It is, therefore, exceedingly risky, especially for anyone with blood sugar issues! In general, HFCS and excessive amounts of added sugar are foods that cause discomfort because they might worsen inflammation.
Excess sugar raises your risk of health issues like obesity and diabetes by giving you a lot of empty calories, providing no nutritional benefit, and spiking your blood sugar.
5. Sweet Relish
You might be startled to see artificial coloring, several preservatives, and a lot of sugar on the ingredients label of most store-bought sweet relishes.
A simple condiment that contains healthy cucumber, onion, vinegar, and a small amount of sweetness generally contains more than ten processed components. Instead, make your own or get an organic, low-sugar brand.
6. Mayonnaise
Although mayonnaise may seem intuitive, it takes some explanation. The problem is not so much the mayonnaise’s fat content (that comes from egg yolks and oil). It’s the kind of oil that’s utilized in the majority of mayos from the store.
Sunflower, safflower, or canola oil are some of the refined and processed vegetable oils used in the majority of mayonnaise available in grocery shops.
Try creating mayo with organic, cage-free egg yolks and extra virgin olive oil. Using a blender, this may be completed in a matter of minutes.
7. “Light” Salad Dressings
To improve the flavor and texture, something else must be added to replace the removed fat, such as sugar, sodium, or artificial additives.
Since they reduce calories and fat from oil, light salad dressings may seem like a decent choice.
However, adding natural, high-quality oils to your salads, such as extra virgin olive oil, is entirely safe and adds essential nutrients.
How to Use and Where to Find The Best Condiments
Condiments can be used for a variety of purposes, including:
- Enhancing the taste of bland or plain foods (such as vegetables or whole grains).
- The more flavorful your diet is, the less bored you will become with healthy, basic ingredients.
- Adding healthy fat to your meals will make you feel fuller and more satisfied for a more extended period.
- Adding a bit of sweetness, spice, or tartness to your food.
- When making dips or spreads, creaminess can be added.
- Adding flavor boosters to sandwiches, burgers, etc.
- Creating dipping sauces for raw vegetables.
- Making marinades for proteins.
- Stir-frying veggies and protein in a sauce.
Look for healthy condiments at your local farmer’s market, online, or in health food stores (such as Amazon or Thrive Market, which stock difficult-to-find brands). Read ingredient labels thoroughly before you buy anything at larger supermarket stores.
The more well-known brands frequently use inexpensive, heavily processed components. Find small businesses that are ideally local, organic, and free of GMOs.
- Hellmann's Drizzle Sauce Variety Pack is a fresh addition to your condiment collection
- This mixed pack includes three delicious Hellmann’s Drizzle Sauces; Cilantro Lime, Creamy Chili Honey and Roasted Garlic
- Try using these sauces as a dressing, dip or drizzle on your favorite foods for an extra flavorful, restaurant-worthy meal at home
- Each sauce in this variety pack is dairy free and gluten-free and low in added sugars
- A fresh addition to your kitchen, these sauces earn a place along more traditional dressings and condiments, like mayo, ketchup, Italian dressing or ranch
- Sir Kensington's Avocado Oil Mayonnaise is made with the highest quality, non-GMO ingredients like 100% avocado oil.
- Avocado Oil Mayo is a real mayonnaise made with a squeeze of lime and a pinch of black pepper.
- This Avocado Oil Mayo is Paleo and Keto Diet Certified condiment, containing no sugar. And, it is shelf-stable.
- All Sir Kensington's condiments and dressings are proudly gluten free.
- We don't use artificial ingredients, colors or preservatives in our Avocado Oil Mayonnaise
- COLD WEATHER NOTICE: If you live in a cold weather climate (below freezing), note that this product is at risk of separation if exposed to freezing temperatures during transit. Separated products are safe to consume, but it is not possible for the product to be returned to its intended condition. It is best to order this product above freezing temperatures or at the store directly during cold weather.
- Avocado Mayo: Our avocado mayonnaise is made with avocado oil and cage-free eggs, and it is soy- and canola-free! With a very neutral taste, recipes taste just like they should
- Not artificial: Our non-GMO promise means we never use ingredients that are genetically modified, so you can trust the quality and taste, making this keto mayonnaise a condiment essential
- MayoYAYse not MayoNAYse: Our Avocado Mayonnaise is made with avocado oil, Non-GMO ingredients, cage-free eggs, and is soy and canola free. Try this delicious alternative to traditional, canola-based mayonnaise with the benefits of avocado oil
- Educate your tastebuds: BetterBody Foods products combine better-for-you ingredients with delicious flavor. We are committed to nutritious, better foods made with real, simple ingredients
- One 13 oz bottle of Heinz No Sugar Added Tomato Ketchup
- Heinz No Sugar Added Tomato Ketchup has the thick & rich taste your family loves with no added sugar
- The thick & rich ketchup you love with no sugar from anything other than red, ripe tomatoes
- Use Heinz No Sugar Added Tomato Ketchup to create the perfect hot dog or hamburger
- Upside down ketchup squeeze bottle makes serving clean and easy
- One 8 oz bottle of Heinz Yellow Mustard
- From Memorial Day to Fourth of July, add some tangy mustard flavor to all your summer BBQs
- Heinz Yellow Mustard delivers the perfect balance of flavor and tang to all your favorite summer grilling foods
- Heinz Yellow Mustard delivers the perfect balance of flavor and tang
- Offers the thick and rich taste you expect from Heinz
- 8 fl oz of fat-free salad dressing per bottle
- Sugar-free, Gluten-free
- Just 10 calories per serving
- Contains one 20-ounce squeeze bottle of Hunt's Best Ever Tomato Ketchup
- More thick, more rich, no corners cut with this delicious tomato condiment
- Hunt's Ketchup is made from California-grown, vine-ripened tomatoes
- It's Hunt's thickest tomato ketchup to dip, top or cook with burgers, fries, nuggets, meatloaf, tots and more
- This non-GMO, all-natural ketchup has no additives, preservatives or high fructose corn syrup
- ICONIC FLAVOR, NO ADDED SUGAR: True Made Foods ketchup has zero added sugar, sweetened with real fruits and vegetables. Enjoy real ingredients without compromising on the iconic ketchup flavor you expect at every cookout.
- FITS ANY LIFESTYLE: Whether you're Whole 30, Keto, Vegan, Paleo or Gluten Free, True Made Foods has the perfect condiment for you to fit any diet or lifestyle. Made with all natural ingredients, our condiments, and sauces are free from high fructose corn syrup and contain no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
- REAL INGREDIENTS: Our No Sugar Ketchup is naturally sweetened with apple, butternut squash, and carrots. Even the pickiest eaters love it for dipping, dunking, and squeezing. Each bottle contains more than ½ a pound of American-grown fruits and veggies.
- GUILT FREE: This ketchup is the perfect alternative to traditional ketchup loaded in artificial sweeteners and sugars. True Made ketchup is a great addition to any meal and will satisfy your cravings without any guilt.
- TRUE MADE FOODS: Veteran Owned. We’re remaking America’s iconic condiments using foods rooted in tradition, heritage, and most importantly, the ground - made locally in Virginia. Revolutionizing America’s favorite iconic condiments with the sweetness of real fruits and vegetables instead of sugar.
- USDA Certified Organic
- QAI Certified Organic - If It's Organic It's Non-GMO
- Brought to you by Whole Foods Market; The packaging for this product has a fresh new look; During this transition, you may get the original packaging or the new packaging in your order, but the product and quality is staying exactly the same; Enjoy!
- Certified Kosher
- ALWAYS SUGAR FREE - Yeah, you read that right! You can always expect a savory experience in our sugar free dressings. It's a great fit for anyone wanting a healthier way of life
- GLUTEN FREE - Don't worry our keto salad dressings are gluten free. You deserve to experience this beautifully-crafted flavor without having to worry about fatigue or stomach pains
- KETO-FRIENDLY - These low-carb salad dressings work for your keto diet. You're welcome. Give your taste buds what they deserve with our selection of keto friendly dressings!
- NO MORE BORING MEALS - Our keto sauces and dressings take your meals to the next level. Make your stomach happy with our variety pack of delicious sugar free dressings and sauces today!
- AWARD-WINNING PIT MASTER - G Hughes created a line of sugar free, gluten free perfection with all of the taste and none of the guilt. Try slathering our finger-licking sauces on your next meal
Risks and Negative Impacts
Keep in mind that condiments increase flavor. That implies that they shouldn’t be consumed frequently or as a mainstay of your diet.
While some condiments are regarded as nutritious and add nutrients to your diet, using them sparingly is still advised.
For instance, even healthy condiments still contain a lot of sodium, mainly if you use them. Watch what you’re serving.
For burgers, sandwiches, salads, etc., use no more than two teaspoons, and for marinades and sauces, use no more than one to two tablespoons.
When buying condiments, be cautious if you have a gluten, dairy, or soy allergy. Because many condiments have additives, no one could expect them.
Conclusion
- The purpose of condiments is to enhance the taste of foods by adding variety, spice, sweetness, heat, and other flavors.
- In addition to making bland/plain foods (such as vegetables or whole grains) taste better, condiments are used to improve the texture of recipes, add some healthy fat, and make foods taste tastier, sweeter, or spicier.
- To be considered healthy, condiments should be low in sugar, salt, and sodium and free of refined oils, GMOs, additives, colors, and preservatives.
- What are some examples of condiments? Apple cider vinegar, mustards, tamari, salsa, hot sauce, raw honey, spices, hummus, olive oil, sauerkraut, and others are healthy condiments.
- In contrast, here are some condiments to avoid: ketchup, soy sauces, BBQ sauce, mayonnaise, light salad dressings, agave nectar, and sweet relish.
