Ugly Side Effects of Eating Too Much Mayo
Condiments can often get overlooked when it comes to how much you're actually eating, and especially how that compares to an actual serving size of what you should be eating. It's easy to not think twice before spreading some mayonnaise on your turkey sandwich or adding some to an aioli or a sauce, but those calories add up—quick. Though there are definitely certain mayo brands that are healthier than others, eating too much from any of these store-bought options could leave you feeling some of these unhealthy side effects. Here's why, and for more healthy eating tips, be sure to check out our list of The 7 Healthiest Foods to Eat Right Now.
You'll increase your blood sugar levels.
Blood sugar may be one of the last things on your mind when you think of mayo, but it's actually a condiment that has way more sugar than you'd think. While regular mayo has 1 gram of sugar per tablespoon, which isn't too bad if eaten in moderation. However, if you go with any sort of fat-reduced mayonnaise, you could be looking at up to 4 grams of sugar per tablespoon. Eating high amounts of sugar on a regular basis will have a direct impact on your blood sugar levels, so it's crucial that you swap out any sort of low-fat mayo for the regular kind and definitely eat this condiment more moderately.
Or keep it even healthier by making your own version! Here's How to Make Mayonnaise in Just 10 Minutes.
You could raise your blood pressure.
Thanks to all the processed foods on grocery shelves, many of those items contain high levels of omega-6 fatty acids, which can lead to high blood pressure in the body. Mayonnaise fits into that category as a result of the added oils that many contain—and you may not even realize. It's also important to note that with high blood pressure, there is also a risk of blood clots, heart attack, and stroke, so it's crucial to take your blood pressure levels seriously.
Here are the Dangerous Side Effects of Having High Blood Pressure.
You'll gain weight.
Just by the look of mayonnaise, it's easy to tell that's definitely not a low-calorie item, but how unhealthy is this condiment really? Given that mayo is mostly made up of oil, as mentioned above, it's incredibly high in fat—we're talking about 10 grams per tablespoon. It's also almost 100 calories per tablespoon, which is a lot, especially for a condiment. That's why it's important to always portion out your mayonnaise if you're adding it to anything because it can be easy to be eating too much mayo and gain weight.
You could risk developing heart disease.
This is another side effect that could come as a result of the fat content in this condiment—but this time, it's the saturated fat. MyFoodData reports that in one tablespoon of mayonnaise, you'll find 1.6 grams of saturated fat. Even though that may not sound like a lot, how many people are actually taking out a measuring spoon to give themselves a proper serving of mayo? Our guess is not many. We do know one thing, though, that saturated fat adds up, and it adds up fast. You'll see the results of a diet high in saturated fat reflected in your cholesterol numbers, and with high cholesterol comes an increased risk of developing heart disease. So, it's crucial to pay attention to serving size when it comes to the mayo you're putting on your sandwich.
You could experience headaches, weakness, or nausea.
We hate to break it to you, but there's a reason that homemade mayonnaise only lasts in your refrigerator for a week, while the processed stuff can last for months—it's the artificial ingredients. SFGate gets into the specifics when it comes to the types of artificial ingredients, everything from preservatives or additives to MSG can be found in those processed containers. Even though, of course, these options sold in your grocery store are FDA-approved, you could be feeling some side effects as a result. That's where the headaches, weakness, and nausea come in. These side effects are definitely a good reason to start making mayonnaise at home from scratch, here's our recipe.
