Is Hot Sauce Healthy? What You Need to Know
There’s no doubt that hot sauce can add a delicious kick to any dish, but is it healthy? And what do you need to know about adding hot sauce to your diet?
The Sriracha hot sauce is a great way to add flavor to any dish while keeping things low calorie and healthy. Always be sure to check the nutrition facts label before buying, as some hot sauces can have more salt or sugar than you might expect. Nutritional value is important, but hot sauce can still be a healthful addition to your diet!
Here are some things to consider:
- Hot sauce is typically low in calories and fat, and it’s also a good source of vitamin C.
- One tablespoon of hot sauce typically contains about three calories.
- Not all hot sauces are created equal, however. Some can have more salt or sugar than you might expect. Always be sure to check the nutrition facts label before adding it to your shopping cart!
Nutritional Value
- Low in calories and fat
- Good source of vitamin C
- Check the nutrition facts label before buying!
Just 1 teaspoon (5 mL) contains (1Trusted Source)
- Calories: 0.5
- Protein: 0 grams
- Fat: 0 grams
- Carbs: 0 grams
- Vitamin C: 4% of the Daily Value (DV)
Contains Capsaicin
Capsaicin is the ingredient found in chili peppers that makes them spicy. It’s also what gives cayenne pepper its heat. This compound has a long history of use in both food and medicine.
Capsaicin is said to have a variety of health benefits. These include relieving pain, boosting metabolism, and fighting cancer.
The compound can also cause some unpleasant side effects, such as burning the mouth and stomach lining if consumed in large amounts or over a long period of time. Some people also experience negative reactions to capsaicin when they get cayenne pepper extract supplements that contain it.
It May be high in salt
Too much salt in your diet can have some serious health consequences, including high blood pressure and heart disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people consume no more than 2300 milligrams of sodium per day, but many Americans exceed this amount by a wide margin.
If you’re looking to cut back on your salt intake, start by checking the sodium levels in the foods you eat. It May be high in salt, so try to avoid those products as much as possible. Instead, opt for fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains.
How to choose a healthy hot sauce?
There are many different types of hot sauce on the market, so how do you choose a healthy one?
First, look for a hot sauce that is low in sodium. Some sauces have up to 700mg of sodium per serving! Choose a sauce with less than 100mg of sodium per serving.
Second, choose a hot sauce that is low in sugar. One bottle of hot sauce can have as much as 20g of sugar! Look for a brand with less than half the amount, or even better no added sugars at all.
Third, choose sauces made from real ingredients. Some brands use high fructose corn syrup and MSG instead of actual spices to make their product. Look for brands that use real ingredients like cayenne, chili peppers, garlic, and vinegar.
Finally, choose a hot sauce with no artificial colors or flavors. There are so many recipes out there using natural spices you don’t need to add food coloring! Instead of bright red colorings, look for sauces made from organic fruit juices instead.
Does hot sauce burn fat?
There is no definitive answer to this question as research on the matter is inconclusive. Some studies suggest that hot sauce may help boost metabolism and promote weight loss, while others claim that it has no effect. However, if you enjoy spicy foods, there’s no harm in adding a little hot sauce to your diet in order to give your meals some extra flavor.
Conclusion
Is Hot Sauce Healthy? This is a question that has been debated for years with no conclusive answer. Depending on who you ask, hot sauce can be healthy or unhealthy based on the ingredients used to produce it and how much of it is consumed. There are some general guidelines when considering whether this condiment could be beneficial in your diet regimen- there should not be any added sugar; preservatives should also not make an appearance, and sodium content needs to stay below 400mg per serving. If these sound-like criteria you want to meet, then go ahead and reach for Tabasco.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
