Is Thousand Island Dressing Bad For You?
Short answer
As some of the ingredients listed below have been linked to illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, etc., it is imperative that you buy Thousand Island dressing free of the mentioned ingredients. Even then, as the dressing is void of nutrients, it shouldn't be a regular part of any healthy diet.
Recommended Alternative
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
Considering Thousand Island dressing can be prepared in almost as many ways as its namesake, it is not easy to come to a concrete answer regarding whether or not it is healthy, so the following information should be considered based on information accumulated from the leading brands of Thousand Island dressing.
Thousand Island dressing is a mayonnaise-based salad spread consisting primarily of ketchup or chili sauce, hard-boiled egg, and olives. Other main ingredients often include pickles, onions, chives, and lemon juice among others. In the leading brands, many preservatives / flavorings / colorings are also added, notably such controversial items such as Red 40, Yellow 6, EDTA, Blue 1, and HFCS - each of which comes with their own laundry list of side effects. Just to name off a few, Red 40 has been linked to hyperactivity in children and may increase your risk of developing cancer. HFCS, on the other hand, has been shown to dramatically increase your risk for type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
A comparison of the leading brands shows that there is zero nutritional benefit in consuming Thousand Island dressing, as it is void of any essential vitamins and minerals. There are some brands that have no calories, so if you are looking to add flavor without worrying about weight gain, this may be the way to go - however, you still need to be aware of the ingredients mentioned above. Also, if you have any food allergies, you should check the ingredients label on the particular brand you are going to use or ask the waiter/chef if you are at a restaurant (fun fact: restaurants often refer to Thousand Island dressing as their "special sauce").
While a Thousand Island dressing without any calories or sugar is possible, you should still be aware that it contains a fairly high amount of sodium (about 300 grams per serving size). Definitely do not add Thousand Island dressing to your diet as a provider of nutrients. However, if you get a low-fat variety while making sure to avoid artificial ingredients (or better yet, make your own), it works as a good alternative to other dressings that may be more fatty - such as ranch dressing. Just remember the word: moderation.
Possible short-term side effects
- water retention
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nausea
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stomach cramps
Possible long-term side effects
- weight gain
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increased blood pressure
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heart disease
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diabetes
Ingredients to be aware of
Healthier alternatives
- make your thousand island dressing at home with natural ingredients
-
olive oil and vinegar
-
cottage cheese and dill
Our Wellness Pick
(what is this?)
Primal Kitchen Italian Dressing
- Avocado oil based
- Whole30 Approved
- Paleo Friendly
- Keto Certified
- No Dairy/Grain/Gluten
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Written by Jeff Volling
Published on: 01-01-2016
Last updated: 12-15-2023
Thank you for your feedback!
Written by Jeff Volling
Published on: 01-01-2016
Last updated: 12-15-2023
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