Experts have issued new warnings about 'healthy' foods they say are laced with hidden sugars, which could pose problems for heart and oral health.
Dr. Donald Hensrud, associate professor of Nutrition and Preventive Medicine at the Mayo Clinic, warned this week that salad dressings can be packed with unhealthy additives due to processing.
'Every time food is processed, certain things are added. And it's often sugar or salt,” he said in a Mayo Clinic blog post.
“A lot of things you wouldn't even suspect — some sauces, some dips, some spreads — there are added sugars in almost every category of food product out there.”
DailyMail.com found that five salad dressings with labels like “organic” and “fat-free” still contained eight to 12 grams of added sugar — more than a Krispy Kreme donut.
Several salad dressings labeled “organic” and “fat-free” also contain up to 12 grams of added sugar
It's also the equivalent of a bowl of sugary cereal and a handful of cookies.
For example, Target's Good and Gather Raspberry Vinaigrette is labeled “organic” and states on the bottle that it “contains no synthetic colors, artificial flavors or artificial preservatives.”
However, it is sweetened with nine grams of added sugar per serving, a whopping three Chips Ahoy! cookies.
Despite containing no fat and only 40 calories per two-tablespoon serving, Maple Grove Farms Fat-Free Honey Dijon Dressing is packed with nine grams of added sugar.
Experts like the American Heart Association recommend eating no more than 24 grams of sugar per day – to limit hunger and prevent tooth decay.
Wishbone's Western salad dressing, described as “a savory take on traditional French dressings,” contains 12 grams of added sugar in just two tablespoons.
This is the same amount of sugar as a cup of Fruity Pebbles or Lucky Charms cereal.
a review published last year in the journal BMJfor example, linked high consumption of added sugars to 45 negative health outcomes.
These include diabetes, gout, obesity, high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, cancer, asthma, tooth decay, depression and premature death.
A large part of the danger lies specifically in added sugars.
For example, fructose and lactose occur naturally in foods such as fruit and milk.
Added sugars include sucrose, dextrose and syrups, which are manufactured in processed foods such as breakfast cereals and dressings.
Dr. Hensraud suggested opting for foods with natural sugars, such as fruit, which do not raise blood sugar levels and also contain nutrients such as vitamins.
Read more about the worst connections below:
Good and collect raspberry vinaigrette
60 calories
3.5 grams of fat
125 milligrams of sodium
8 grams of carbohydrates
8 grams of sugar
Ingredients: Water, cane sugar, raspberries, soy oil, distilled vinegar, red wine vinegar, contains less than 2% lemon juice concentrate, sea salt, spices, xanthan gum, dried onion, fruit and vegetable juice (for color), natural Flavor
Ken's Steakhouse Country French with Orange Blossom Honey
140 calories
12 grams of fat
230 mg sodium
10 grams of carbohydrates
9 grams of sugar
Ingredients: soy oil, sugar, water, distilled vinegar, apple cider vinegar, honey, tomato paste, contains less than 2% salt, paprika powder, mustard flour, xanthan gum, onion, garlic, beet juice powder (color), natural flavor, Calcium disodium EDTA (to protect the taste)
Wishbone western salad dressing
160 calories
12 grams of fat
250 milligrams of sodium
13 grams of carbohydrates
12 grams of sugar
Ingredients: High fructose corn syrup, soybean oil, distilled vinegar, tomato paste, contains less than 2% salt, paprika, water, spices, natural flavors, xanthan gum, beet juice concentrate (color), modified acacia gum, onion, apple juice concentrate, apple cider vinegar, propylene glycol, citric acid, calcium disodium EDTA (to protect quality)
Maple Grove Farms Fat Free Honey Dijon Dressing
40 calories
0 grams of fat
220 grams of sodium
9 grams of carbohydrates
9 grams of sugar
Ingredients: Water, sugar, cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard (distilled vinegar, water, mustard seeds, salt, white wine, citric acid, turmeric, tartaric acid, spices) Mustard flour, salt, cellulose gel, mustard seeds, lemon juice Concentrated, xanthan gum, potato starch, cellulose gum, dried onion, potassium sorbate (to preserve freshness), caramel color, dried garlic, natural flavor
Brianna's Blush Wine Vinaigrette
100 calories
7 grams of fat
310 milligrams of sodium
11 grams of carbohydrates
9 grams of sugar
Ingredients: Cane sugar, water, red wine vinegar, rapeseed oil, salt, garlic puree (garlic, citric acid), xanthan gum, mixed tocopherols (antioxidant – vitamin E)