These 2 Salad Ingredients Are Actually So Bad For You–They Lead To Inflammation And Weight Gain!

Croutons

Although croutons may be a delicious way to add some crunch to your salad, beware: they're often packed with carbohydrates and "typically filled with preservatives and ingredients that can be inflammatory to the body," as Dr. Lee points out. Inflammation is a normal immune response to injury or infection, but chronic inflammation can lead to a variety of health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. And by consuming croutons and other processed foods high in preservatives and additives, we may be contributing to chronic inflammation in the body. Dr. Lee also says the additives found in croutons can "[hinder] the body from burning fat," leading to weight gain. Additionally, croutons are often "loaded with salt," which can contribute to high blood pressure and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Yikes!

If you still want to bring some texture to your salad without loading it up with these harmful ingredients, there are many healthy alternatives. You can add some chopped nuts like almonds, walnuts, or pecans, or you can sprinkle on some tasty seeds like pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, or hemp seeds. Your body will thank you!

Ranch dressing

Ranch dressing is another common salad ingredient that can be detrimental to our health. According to Campbell, ranch dressing is high in "sodium, sugar, saturated fat, and cholesterol." She says that these harmful ingredients increase the risk of "weight gain, obesity, high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, gastrointestinal issues, and even depression." Even a small serving of ranch dressing can be high in calories and unhealthy fats. As Mitri points out, just 2 tablespoons of ranch dressing contain 129 calories, 12 grams of total fat, and almost 3 grams of saturated fat. Say it ain't so!

That doesn’t mean you have to eat a dry salad, though. Healthy alternatives to high-fat dressings like ranch include balsamic vinaigrette, hummus, and even a simple homemade dressing using lemon juice and olive oil. Yum!

The bottom line

Overall, it's important to be mindful of the ingredients in the foods we eat, and croutons and ranch dressing are two examples of common salad additions that may be worth avoiding due to their potential negative impacts on our health. While a little bit may not hurt, it's best to consume these ingredients in moderation or consider alternative options to prevent inflammation and maintain a healthy weight.