'Extremely popular' condiments could be causing you to gain weight - 'can be high in sugars, fats and calories'
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For those on a weight loss journey, developing a healthy eating regime is essential.
But according to an expert, some unexpected kitchen staples could be scuppering your best efforts. Slimmers should think twice before adding condiments, as ketchup, mayonnaise and more will add extra calories to your meals.
Professor Franklin Joseph from Dr Frank's Weight Loss Clinic revealed the five popular condiments that are "secretly sabotaging your diet".
The expert stated: "Following a calorie-controlled diet is one of the cornerstones of any weight loss journey and ultimately consuming fewer calories than we use is the key to success.
Condiments 'can be high in sugars, fats and calories'
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"However, it is not always easy to track exactly how many calories we consume each day, and there are plenty of sources that are easy to overlook.
"Condiments such as ketchup and mayonnaise are extremely popular in the UK as a way to bring an extra dash of life to a dish.
"But we must not forget that they can be high in sugars, fats and calories, and they count towards our daily calorie intake whether we realise it or not.
"For example, mayonnaise contains 94 calories per tablespoon while salad cream contains 50.
"If you’re adding ketchup, that’s an extra 19 calories per tablespoon, Caesar salad dressing contains 85 calories, and ranch dressing an extra 73.
"It’s important to keep a close eye on what passes our lips and factor in the calories towards our daily goals if we are to achieve a positive outcome in our weight loss journeys."
Those who want to lose weight should be healthily decreasing their calorie intake so they are in a calorie deficit (when you burn more calories than you consume).
Dr Frank said: "Making small changes such as reducing or cutting out our intake of condiments can really add up.
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Ditching the salad dressing can reduce your overall calorie intake
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"It’s much more sustainable in the long term to make little changes to our habits rather than drastic ones that we simply won’t be able to maintain."
Other small and achievable measures slimmers can take to achieve their weight loss include eating more protein, swapping sugary drinks for water, and switching from white bread and rice to their whole-grain counterparts.
Exercise should be done in conjunction with eating well to see results. According to a health and weight loss expert, making a slight change to the way you walk can "jump-start" your weight loss over 50.
In other weight loss news, a slimmer who lost 6st without going to the gym shared her effective and free method.