November 5, 2019

11/05/2019 | Comment

It is said that “Variety is the spice of life.” Adding condiments to your dishes is a great way to improve the taste of bland dishes rendering them more palatable and interesting as well. However, when you’re on a ketogenic diet, certain condiments have no place in your kitchen or your home.

Below, we’re sharing the best and worst condiments for a ketogenic diet.

1. Ketchup

Best Ketchup Condiment: Annie’s Naturals Organic Ketchup

Serving Size	Calories	Fat Content	Sodium Content	Carbs	Protein
1 Tablespoon	20.0	0 grams	130.0 mg	5.0 grams (4.0 grams of sugar and 0 grams of fibre)	0 grams

Worst Ketchup Condiment: Heinz Tomato Ketchup

Serving Size	Calories	Fat Content	Sodium Content	Carbs	Protein
1 Tablespoon	20.0	0 grams	160.0 mg	5.0 grams (4.0 grams of sugar and 0 grams of fiber)	0 grams

Ideally, you want to use a ketchup designed specifically for those on a ketogenic diet. If have to use a traditional ketchup, it’s best to use an organic ketchup like Annie’s. Not only does research indicate organic tomato products contain roughly double the amount of cancer-fighting lycopene, they also taste better. As a result, you may need less of the organic ketchup.

Also, Heinz has been voted dead last in a random ketchup taste test carried out during a research study. Additionally, it contains high fructose corn syrup, which may be bad for your health.

2. Yellow Mustard

Best Yellow Mustard Condiment: Annie’s Organic Yellow Mustard

Serving Size	Calories	Fat Content	Sodium Content	Carbs	Protein
1 Tablespoon	15.0	0 grams	150.0 mg	0 grams (0 grams of sugar and 0 grams of fiber)	0 grams

Worst Yellow Mustard Condiment: Heinz Yellow Mustard

Serving Size	Calories	Fat Content	Sodium Content	Carbs	Protein
1 Tablespoon	0	0 grams	150.0 mg	0 grams (0 grams of sugar and 0 grams of fiber)	0 grams

3. Honey Mustard

Best Honey Mustard Condiment: Tessemae’s All Natural Organic Honey Mustard

Serving Size	Calories	Fat Content	Sodium Content	Carbs	Protein
1 Tablespoon	30.0	0 grams	240.0 mg	6.0 grams (3.0 grams of sugar and 0 grams of fiber)	0 grams

Worst Honey Mustard Condiment: Inglehoffer Honey Mustard

Serving Size	Calories	Fat Content	Sodium Content	Carbs	Protein
1 Tablespoon	45.0	0 grams	135.0 mg	6.0 grams (6.0 grams of sugar and 0 grams of fiber)	0 grams

The nutritional values are the same for both products; however, Tessamae’s is a better option since it uses solely honey for sweetness. Aside from honey, Inglehoffer also uses high fructose corn syrup, which as stated earlier, may not be good for your health.

4. Mayo

Best Mayo Condiment: Sir Kensington’s Mayo with Avocado Oil

Serving Size	Calories	Fat Content	Sodium Content	Carbs	Protein
1 Tablespoon	90.0	11.0 grams ( contains 1.0 grams of saturated fat)	85.0 mg	0 grams (0 grams of sugar and 0 grams of fiber)	0 grams

Worst Mayo Condiment: Hellman’s Mayonnaise

Serving Size	Calories	Fat Content	Sodium Content	Carbs	Protein
1 Tablespoon	90.0	10 grams (contains 1.50 grams of saturated fat)	90.0 mg	0 grams (0 grams of sugar and 0 grams of fiber)	0 grams

Both types of mayo are roughly the same in terms of nutritional values. However, Sir Kensington’s mayo is the better option. That’s because it contains avocado fat. Avocado is high in monounsaturated fat, which may promote sugar elimination according to research. In fact, the oil in avocados contain more than thrice the amount of monounsaturated fat found in soybean oil, the oil used in Hellman’s mayo. In addition, Sir Kensington’s mayo contains no additives.

5. Vegan Mayo

Best Vegan Mayo Condiment: Sir Kensington’s Fabanaise

Serving Size	Calories	Fat Content	Sodium Content	Carbs	Protein
1 Tablespoon	90.0	10.0 grams (contains 1.0 gram of saturated fat)	95.0 mg	0 grams (0 grams of sugar and 0 grams of fiber)	0 grams

Worst Vegan Mayo Condiment: Hampton Creek Just Mayo

Serving Size	Calories	Fat Content	Sodium Content	Carbs	Protein
1 Tablespoon	90.0	10.0 grams (contains 1.0 gram of saturated fat)	80.0 mg	0 grams (0 grams of sugar and 0 grams of fiber)	0 grams

Sir Kensington’s Fabannaise contains slightly more sodium than Hampton Creek’s Just Mayo. But it is a better option because it does not contain alternative food starch (a taste additive such as MSG which makes up for the missing egg flavor . It also does not contain calcium disodium preservatives that have been associated with the depletion of essential minerals / nutrients from our bodies, high blood pressure, abdominal pain, migraines, and headaches.

6. Hot Sauce

The Best Hot Sauce Condiment: Melinda’s Original Habanero Pepper Sauce

Serving Size	Calories	Fat Content	Sodium Content	Carbs	Protein
1 Tablespoon	0	0	240.0 mg	0 grams (0 grams of sugar and 0 grams of fiber)	0 grams

The Worst Hot Sauce Condiment: Goya Hot Sauce

Serving Size	Calories	Fat Content	Sodium Content	Carbs	Protein
1 Tablespoon	0	0	375.0 mg	0 grams (0 grams of sugar and 0 grams of fiber)	0 grams

Melinda’s Original Habanero Pepper Sauce is a better option since it contains less sodium. Also, unlike Goya Hot Sauce, it contains no food colorings. Food colorings have been associated with impulsivity in kids as well as cancer among adults.

7. Hummus

The Best Hummus Condiment: Roots Original Hummus

Serving Size	Calories	Fat Content	Sodium Content	Carbs	Protein
2 Tablespoons	60.0	6.0 grams (contains about 0 grams of saturated fat)	80.0 mg	6.0 grams (1 gram of sugar and 2 grams of fiber)	2.0 grams

The Worst Hummus Condiment: Sabra Classic Hummus

Serving Size	Calories	Fat Content	Sodium Content	Carbs	Protein
2 Tablespoons	70.0	5.0 grams (contains 1.0 grams of saturated fat)	130.0 mg	4.0 grams (0 grams of sugar and 1.0 gram of fiber)	2.0 grams

Roots Original Hummus is a better option since it contains less sodium. Though it contains more total carbs, it also contains more fibre, which lowers the net carbs. Additionally, it doesn’t contain additives such as potassium sorbate, which has been associated with stomach problems and even migraines. It also uses safflower oil instead of soybean oil. Safflower oil has been associated with lower glucose and cholesterol level, as well as increased weight loss.

8. Barbecue Sauce

The Best Barbecue Sauce Condiments

Stubb’s Original Bar-B-Q Sauce

Serving Size	Calories	Fat Content	Sodium Content	Carbs	Protein
2 Tablespoon	30.0	0 grams	240.0 mg	7.0 grams ( 5 grams of sugar)	0 grams

Primal Kitchen classic barbecue sauce

Serving Size	Calories	Fat Content	Sodium Content	Carbs	Protein
2 Tablespoon	15.0	0 grams (contains 0 grams of saturated fat)	160.0 mg	3.0 grams (2.0 grams of sugar)	0 grams

Are you looking for a sauce that is bold on flavour? Primal Kitchen Classic BBQ sauce has the bold flavor that many keto barbecue sauces are missing. It can be used as a marinade and dipping sauce for all sorts of meat.

Primal Kitchen Classic BBQ Sauce is seasoned with organic cumin, organic chipotle powder, and organic Dijon mustard, and bursting with bold, smoky flavor—making this savory sauce the ultimate cookout condiment for grill masters and sauce lovers. Using USDA organic ingredients and unsweetened, it is the real deal without high fructose corn syrup, honey, dates, or refined sugar of any kind.

Simple Girl Organic Carolina Kick BBQ Sauce

Serving Size	Calories	Fat Content	Sodium Content	Carbs	Protein
2 Tablespoon	5	0 grams	105.0 mg	1.0 gram (0 grams of sugar and 0 grams of dietary fiber)	0 grams

Are you looking for a sauce sweetened with only Stevia and not a ton of other sweeteners? The Simple Girl sauces contain only Stevia.

Stevia lend sweetness which is balanced out with some great spices. For a delicious kick of flavor, use this tangy barbecue sauce for cooking or dipping! This is the best sugar-free BBQ sauce and is great for anyone who is on a ketogenic diet, or just striving to lead a healthier life. It is sugar-free, fat-free, oil-free, and gluten-free.

Stevia Sweet BBQ Sauce

Serving Size	Calories	Fat Content	Sodium Content	Carbs	Protein
2 Tablespoons	10	0 grams (contains 0 grams of saturated fat	110.0 mg	2.0 grams (1 gram of sugar and 0 grams of dietary fiber	0 grams

This reduced sugar BBQ sauce is sweetened with Stevia and contains no artificial sweeteners. With only 1g of sugar per serving, Stevia Sweet BBQ Low Carb BBQ Sauce will be your family’s new favorite. The little bit of Stevia adds sweetness and complements the tomato flavor nicely.

The Worst Barbecue Sauce Condiment: Sweet Baby Ray’s Original Barbecue Sauce

Serving Size	Calories	Fat Content	Sodium Content	Carbs	Protein
2 Tablespoons	70.0	0 grams (contains 0 grams of saturated fat)	290.0 mg	18.0 grams (16.0 grams of sugar and 0 grams of fiber)	0 grams

Sweet Baby Ray’s Original BBQ sauce is not only packed with carbs, it also contains a higher content of high fructose corn syrup. This makes it a poor choice for your ketogenic diet, and your health as well.

The Best Barbecue Sauce Condiment: Sweet Baby Ray’s Original Barbecue Sauce

Serving Size	Calories	Fat Content	Sodium Content	Carbs	Protein
1 Tablespoon	15.0	0 grams (contains about 1.0 grams of saturated fat)	490.0 mg	<1.0 grams (0 grams of sugar and 0 gram of fiber)	1.0 grams

9. Soy Sauce

The Best Soy Sauce Condiment: San-J Tamari Lite 50% Less Sodium Soy Sauce

Serving Size	Calories	Fat Content	Sodium Content	Carbs	Protein
1 Tablespoon	10.0	0 grams	490.0 mg	1.0 grams	1.0 grams

The Worst Soy Sauce Condiment: Lee Kum Kee Premium Soy Sauce

Serving Size	Calories	Fat Content	Sodium Content	Carbs	Protein
1 Tablespoon	15	0 grams (contains 0 grams of saturated fat)	1030.0 mg	2.0 grams (1.0 grams of sugar and 0 grams of fiber)	1.0 grams

San-J Tamari Lite 50% Less Sodium Soy Sauce is the better option. It not only contains less carbs, but less sodium as well. On the other hand, Lee Kum Kee’s Premium Soy Sauce provides almost 50% of your daily sodium needs.

10. Maple Syrup

The Best Maple Syrup Condiment: Maple Grove Dark Amber Maple Syrup

Serving Size	Calories	Fat Content	Sodium Content	Carbs	Protein
1/4 cup	210.0	0 grams (contains 0 grams of saturated fat)	10.0 mg	53.0 grams (53.0 grams of sugar and 0 grams of fiber)	0 grams

The Worst Maple Syrup Condiment: Aunt Jemima Original Syrup

Serving Size	Calories	Fat Content	Sodium Content	Carbs	Protein
1/4 cup	210.0	0 grams	120.0 mg	52.0 grams (32.0 grams of sugar and 0 grams of fiber)	0 grams

Maple Grove Dark Amber Maple Syrup is the clear winner. It contains much less sodium. Also, unlike Aunt Jemima Original Syrup, it also doesn’t contain high fructose corn syrup, synthetic flavorings, and caramel coloring. As a whole, these substances have been associated with a host of health issues from fatty liver disease to even cancer.

In addition, since Maple Grove Dark Amber Maple Syrup has a complete-bodied maple sweetness, a little goes a long way. So, you end up using less of it than if you were using Aunt Jemima Original Syrup.

11. Guacamole

The Best Guacamole Condiment: Wholly Guacamole Classic Dip

Serving Size	Calories	Fat Content	Sodium Content	Carbs	Protein
2 tablespoons	60.0	6.0 grams (contains 1.0 grams of saturated fat)	130.0 mg	1.0 grams (0 grams of sugar and 1.0 gram of fiber)	1.0 grams

The Worst Guacamole Condiment: Dean’s Guacamole Flavored Dip

Serving Size	Calories	Fat Content	Sodium Content	Carbs	Protein
2 tablespoons	90.0	9.0 grams (contains 3.0 grams of saturated fat)	170.0 mg	2.0 grams (1.0 grams of sugar and 0 gram of fiber)	1.0 grams

Wholly Guacamole is the better option. It contains fewer calories and slightly less carbs than Dean’s Guacamole Flavored Dip.

But the big difference is the amount of avocado used. Dean’s Guacamole Flavored Dip uses less avocado. Avocado is the third item on the ingredient list. The rest is a slurry of ingredients such as food colorings, skim milk, gums and gels.

Wholly Guacamole on the other hand is comprised mostly of avocado. In fact, avocado is the first item on the ingredient list.

Wholly Guacamole also has a more natural ingredient list. Apart from distilled vinegar, it contains jalapeno peppers, salt, dehydrated onion, and granulated garlic.

Conclusion

Condiments are a great way to improve the taste of your dishes. However, it is important to choose wisely. Choose condiments that are lower in carbohydrates, sodium, and additives. This will help you stay in ketosis and maintain good health!

Keto Basics

11/05/2019 | Comment

As the name suggests, medium Chain triglyceride (MCT) oil holds medium-length chains of fats called triglycerides. MCTs are easily digested thanks to their shorter length and many health benefit s are linked to the way the body process these fats. MCT oil regularly added as a supplement to bulletproof coffee, salad dressing, and smoothies.

Commonly extracted from coconut oil, MCT oil has more than 50% of the fat in coconut oil that comes from MCTs. In many foods such as dairy products and palm oil, these fats are also found in them.

Here are 7 benefits you can get from adding MCT oil to your diet.

1. Source of Energy

With more carbon in their fatty acid chains, MCT oil has been named a super fuel since the body absorbs MCTs more rapidly than long-chain triglycerides (LCTs). MCTs travel straight from the gut to the liver and need no bile to break down due to their shorter chain length.

In the liver, the fats are broken down to be either stored as body fat or used as fuel. They can be used as an immediate source of energy since they enter your cells without being broken down.

2. Promotes weight loss

MCT oil has been shown to increase the release of two hormones that promotes the feeling of fullness in the body, leptin and peptide YY.

One study found that persons taking two tablespoons of MCT oil as a portion of their breakfast ended up eating less food for lunch compared to those taking coconut oil. With a lower increase in triglyceride and glucose with MCT oil which also induces the feeling of fullness as shown by the same study.

Researcher report that taking MCT oil significantly reduce waist circumference and body weight. As an instant source of energy, your body uses MCT oil making it unnecessary to store fat for this purpose. Nevertheless, it is vital to note your body may adapt to this dietary change leading to temporary results.

When the carbs intakes are low MCTs can be converted into ketones which are produced from the breakdown of fat. MCT oil can help you in the fat-burning state known as ketosis if you are following a Ketogenic diet which is very low in carbs but high in fat.

3. May help use fats for energy and reduce Lactate Buildup in Athletes

One study found that athletes who took 1.5 teaspoons or 6 grams of MCTs with food before cycling had lower lactate levels and found it easier to exercise compared to those taking LCTs. Taking MCT oil before exercise may help you use more fat instead of carb for energy according to study.

A human-based study found no improvement in endurance performance in runners unlike in mice which showed improve swimming capacity.

4. May reduce risk factors for Heart disease such as Cholesterol and weight

MCT oil has shown to support fat loss and weight hence reducing the risk of heart diseases as some factors that increase your risk include blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, inflammation and being overweight.

A study of 24 overweight men found that taking MCT oil combined with flaxseed oil and phytosterols for 29 days reduces total cholesterol by 12.5%. However, a 4.7% reduction was shown when olive oil was used instead.

5. MCT oil help manage Alzheimer’s disease, Autism, and Epilepsy’s disease

An MCT ketogenic diet offers an alternative source of energy, Ketones as Alzheimer’s disease impairs the brain’s ability to use sugar. This enables brain cells to survive better and blocks a receptor in the brain that causes memory loss.

While genetic factors play a role as evidence suggests that 20-70 grams of supplemental MCTs that include caprylic or capric acid can modestly improve the system of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s.

Autism

One study found positive overall improvement when a ketogenic diet was followed for 6 months. Adding MCTs to ketogenic and gluten-free diet substantially improve autism behaviors for 6 of the 15 children involved as according to another study.

Epilepsy

While the ketogenic diet has gained popularity amongst people wishing to lose weight, it was first introduced as a way of managing epilepsy. According to scientist fasting increase ketone production and this reduce the frequency of epileptic seizures.

A study done in rats found that the same MCT blocked receptors in the brain that cause seizures though more human studies are needed.

6. Contains fatty acids that fight bacterial growth and yeast

Coconut oil which contains a large amount of MCTs has been shown to reduce the growth of Candida albicans by 25%. This is a common yeast that can cause thrush and various skin infections. MCTs themselves have also been shown to suppress the growth of a widespread infectious fungus in hospitals by up to 50%.

NOTE

Most of the research on MCTs and immune support has been conducted via the test-tube of animal studies. High-quality human studies are desirable before stronger conclusions can be made.

7. May help control blood sugar levels

MCTs have been shown to reduce fat storage and increase fat burning to most people with type 2 diabetes who are obese or overweight and are unable to manage diabetes.

According to the study found that when 10 people with diabetes were injected with insulin, they required 30% less sugar to maintain normal blood sugar levels when they consumed MCTs, compared to LCTs.

MCT oil drawback

Although MCTs are considered safe, here are some of the disadvantages: –

MCT oil in high doses may rise the amount of fat in your liver in the long term. One 12-study in mice found that a diet in which 50% of the fats were MCTs increased liver fat. Interestingly, the same study also found that MCTs reduced total body fat and improved insulin resistance.

May stimulate the release of Hunger hormones

While MCTs can increase the release of hormones that help you feel fuller longer, they may also stimulate the release of hunger hormones in some people. People who took more than 6 grams of MCTs per day produced more of these hormones than those who had less than 1 gram per day. However, it is unclear whether the increase in these hormones cause you to eat more.

What is Coconut Oil?

Coconut oil is made by pressing fresh coconut meat of dried coconut meat called copra. The oil and milk from the coconut are pressed and then the oil is removed. With a firm texture at room or cool temperature because of the fat in the oil which is generally saturated fats. Coconut oil liquefies at temperatures about 78 degrees.

Types of coconut oil

Here are a few types of coconut oil that you should be aware of:

Refined coconut oil: It involves going through a refining process of bleaching and deodorizing the oil. Refined oils don’t have a noticeable coconut taste or aroma like virgin coconut oil. They are not recommended because many of them are made with harsh chemicals and high temperatures, both of which can destroy the oil’s beneficial antioxidants.

Virgin coconut oil: The least refined and most beneficial made from dried or copra coconut meat. They have been produced using a wet-milling method, which means that it extracted from coconut meat and oil that has been produced with a dry method as dried copra is used instead. People are using coconut oil everything from bulletproof coffee to smoothies, a mug of java spiked with coconut oil and butter.

Here are the health benefits of coconut oil:

1. Coconut oil can increase fat burning

While some people think obesity is only a matter of calories other believe that the source of those calories is vital too. The medium-chain triglycerides MCT in coconut oil can increase how many calories you burn compared to the same number of calories from longer chain fats.

2. Potent medicinal properties

Coconut oil is high in healthy saturated fats that have dissimilar effects than most other fats in your diet. These fats can increase fats burning and provide your body and brain with rapid energy. They also raise the good HDL cholesterol in your blood which is linked to reducing heart disease risk

3. Kill harmful microorganisms

About 50% of the fatty acids in coconut oil are made up of 12-carbon lauric acid. Monolaurin is a substance formed when lauric acid is digested. Both monolaurin and lauric acid can kill harmful pathogens like fungi, viruses, and bacteria.

4. Reduce hunger by eating less

Coconut oil has one interesting feature of the fatty acids that can reduce your hunger. This may be related to the way the fats are metabolized because ketones can have an appetite effect.

5. Reduce seizures

The MCTs in coconut oil can increase the blood concentration of ketone bodies, which can help reduce seizures in epileptic children.

6. Manage Alzheimer

Coconut oil does have antioxidants, compounds that help reduce the mental loss from Alzheimer’s diseases by providing an alternate energy source for the brain. But right now, the evidence is mostly not from research but word of mouth.

MCTs vs Coconut oil

There is a lot of misinformation on the internet regarding the difference between coconut oil and MCT oil. Here is the difference between the coconut oil and MCT oil:

Coconut oil is natural while MCT Oil is manufactured, Coconut oil in nature holds all four MCTs. Also, it contains a slight percentage of longer chain fatty acids.

On the other hand, MCT oil is not an oil found in nature but is manufactured by machine to separate the medium-chain fatty acids from the rest of the oil. Fractionation is an industrial process used to extract fatty acids. It is a common belief that MCT oil is healthier than coconut oil.

Is MCT Oil better than coconut oil?

Lauric acids are unique to coconut oil, comprising about 50% of its fatty acids. Nature’s richest source of lauric acid in coconut oil is the next highest source to human breast milk, about 6 to 10%. Coconut oil is the place to get lauric acid.

However, if you need the Capra medium-chain fatty acids, you have many more alternatives including goat’s milk and other animal’s milk. The Capra medium-chain fatty acids have their unique features and benefits. It is short-sighted to refer to them as better than coconut oil.

They are not better but just different.

Due to the recent rise in the popularity of coconut oil, MCT oil has been marketed as liquid coconut oil now. MCTs, stay liquid at a much lower temperature when lauric acids are removed.

Conclusion

So, while I am not saying MCT oil is bad the hype saying it is better than coconut oil just does not reflect the facts. People with such statements are falling for marketing claims without really investigating the true nature of MCT oil as it suggests.

Reference

Know Your Fats, by Mary Enig, Ph.D. Bethesda Press. p. 259

Nutrition

1. Ketchup

2. Yellow Mustard

3. Honey Mustard

4. Mayo

5. Vegan Mayo

6. Hot Sauce

7. Hummus

8. Barbecue Sauce

9. Soy Sauce

10. Maple Syrup

11. Guacamole

Conclusion

1. Source of Energy

2. Promotes weight loss

3. May help use fats for energy and reduce Lactate Buildup in Athletes

4. May reduce risk factors for Heart disease such as Cholesterol and weight

5. MCT oil help manage Alzheimer’s disease, Autism, and Epilepsy’s disease

6. Contains fatty acids that fight bacterial growth and yeast

7. May help control blood sugar levels

MCT oil drawback

May stimulate the release of Hunger hormones

What is Coconut Oil?

Types of coconut oil

1. Coconut oil can increase fat burning

2. Potent medicinal properties

3. Kill harmful microorganisms

4. Reduce hunger by eating less

5. Reduce seizures

6. Manage Alzheimer

MCTs vs Coconut oil

Is MCT Oil better than coconut oil?

Conclusion

Reference

Know Your Fats, by Mary Enig, Ph.D. Bethesda Press. p. 259