Ketchup or Mayo? Which is the Healthiest Condiment?
It's a debate that's been raging on for years, and quite rightly so. There are just some things not to be taken lightly, and when it comes down to what you dunk your chips in, well, it doesn't get any bigger, or serious, than this.
Note: for those of you who mix both ketchup and mayo together, kindly leave. You simply aren't welcome here.
The Big Numbers
Mayo
The total sales of mayo in the UK per year. Made possible by the 6.6 million people sticking a knife into a jar at least once a week.
Ketchup
The total weight of ‘red sauce’ Brits eat annually. That's heavier than 10,000 elephants or 15,000 Ford Mondeos
Muscle Gain
Mayo
Thanks to its egg content, mayo contains a healthy helping of Omega-3, a fatty acid that curbs DOMS, allowing you to train harder. Dollop on your post-workout chicken salad.
Journal of Sports Science and Medicine
Ketchup
Carrying a dose of bicep-boosting potassium on par with bananas per 100g, Ketchup is also teeming with tomatidine, a natural chemical that stimulates extra muscle growth.
The Journal of Biological Chemistry
Nutrition
Mayo
Ketchup
Weight-Loss
Mayo
Although a single spoonful contains 16% of your fat RDA, don’t stress too much. That serving also boasts a hit of choline, a compound that speeds up calorie-burning.
Ketchup
Not only is it lower in calories, but ketchup’s tomato base means it is crammed with metabolism-maxing micronutrients like copper, phosphorus, iron and Vitamin B6.
Dips in Form
Mayo
Ketchup
Health
Mayo
Not only does it hold the sauce together, but mayo's lemon juice delivers a fruitful return on citric acid, which reduces blood pressure, says the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism.
Ketchup
Ketchup serves up a hidden helping of lycopene, a nutrient that can reduce your chances of a stroke by 55%, according to the journal Neurology. Be liberal on your next hot dog.
MH Verdict: Ketchup wins!
Red squeezes in front. Although its egg base lays solid muscle-building groundwork, mayo's calories count eventually against it. In contrast, ketchup contains a serving of micronutrients you’ll relish, earning its place as the king of condiments.
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