5 unhealthy salad dressings that are sabotaging your weight loss routine | The Times of India (2024)

Salads are a staple for anyone who has been trying to lose weight and stay fit for a long time. They can also tend to be boring for the palate if not for the exciting salad dressings that are available in the market. However, your choice of salad dressing can determine how healthy and calorie-free your salads are.

Some salad dressings have a high percentage of fats and sugars which make your salads unhealthy. Here is a list of five dressings you should avoid if you want your salad to have the effect you thought it would.

Ranch is undoubtedly a very famous salad dressing. The tangy taste of buttermilk with onions and garlic is adored by so many. However, the ranch dressing you love so much is loaded with saturated fats and sodium. Saturated fats are difficult for your body to metabolize, which leads to weight gain. So, keep away from ranch salad dressing especially if you are looking to lose weight.

The perfect Thousand Island dressing is made with tons of mayonnaise and ketchup. There is no real nutritional value in the dressing. It is filled with saturated fats, sodium, and sugars which lead to high cholesterol and heart diseases, leaving your salad unhealthier than you imagined. Instead, try healthier versions that can be made at home with substituting ingredients like mayonnaise with healthier alternatives. Even then, it is advisable to make a small batch and use a moderated amount on your salad.

The basic ingredient in a blue cheese dressing, as the name suggests, is blue cheese. You should stay away from this tangy salad dressing especially if you are following a strict diet. The cheese, though tangy and appealing to the taste buds, adds tons of fat and sodium in the mix. The dressing has a high caloric value and is a big no-no for anyone trying to lose weight. The cheese can be substituted with Greek yogurt to maintain the sourness and the tang and yet give it a healthier twist. Even though blue cheese is advisable during a ketogenic diet, the dressing made from blue cheese does contain sugar.

Even though Italian salad dressings are a better alternative from its creamier counterparts, it still holds a major percentage of your daily calorie intake. Italian dressings have no nutritional value. It is worse if you opt for store-bought alternatives. It is advisable to go for homemade substitutes made with ingredients that are healthier and add some value to your salad.

Caesar dressings are a staple at most restaurants and is a favorite for many new and regular salad eaters. The much-adored taste of the sauce comes from the Parmesan cheese, oil and egg yolks with which it is made. The cheese and the oil in the ingredients make the dressing fatty and salty. Anybody looking to lose weight should stay away from Caesar dressings.

A salad dressing makes a boring salad much more palatable, making them irresistible. However, a lot of them put all the effort you do at the gym to waste. Instead, you should consciously shift to healthier alternatives like vinaigrette or even plain vinegar for the much-needed tang in your salad. If your taste buds compel you to take creamier options, make sure you use healthier home-made alternatives to keep yourself on track for your weight loss goal.