Is balsamic vinaigrette dressing healthy?
Is Balsamic Vinaigrette Healthy? Vinaigrettes are the healthier salad dressing options, especially when compared to creamy dressings. And the primary ingredients in balsamic vinaigrette are balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil, both of which have awesome health benefits.
So the next time you're dressing a salad, reach for the balsamic vinegar–in the long run, not ingesting that extra fat and sugar makes a big difference!
“In general, the healthiest choices are oil and vinegar or a light vinaigrette,” Dobbins says. Still, she cautions that it is important to watch your portions because this dressing has a relatively high sodium-per-serving level.
Balsamic vinegar is low on calories, which makes it a great way to add flavor to healthy dishes without adding fat or sodium.
Balsamic vinegar is usually safe to add to foods. It contains very few calories, is low in sugar, and is fat-free.
Balsamic vinegar
Popularly used as a salad dressing, balsamic vinegar is prepared from reduced grape juice and all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients of the fruit are present in this vinegar. This is one of the healthiest and most nutritious varieties of vinegar.
Balsamic vinegar can reduce the concentration of triglycerides and total cholesterol in the body; these have been linked to heart attacks and stroke. Also, due to its low saturated fat content, balsamic vinegar is believed to enhance heart health and reduce high blood pressure.
Balsamic Vinegar contains quercetin – a powerful bioflavinoid with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Folks use it for a variety of things from boosting athletic performance to treating high cholesterol, from helping relieve allergies to preventing cancer.
Yes, balsamic vinegar is good for the liver as it exhibits detoxifying properties. In addition, it also helps treat hepatitis, infections, and jaundice.
Weight loss
If you're looking to lose weight, balsamic vinegar might be a good choice for you. A tablespoon of balsamic vinegar contains around 12 calories and no fat. This makes it a low-calorie food that can help control blood sugar levels and aid in weight loss without cutting out any essential nutrients.
What's the difference between balsamic vinegar and balsamic vinaigrette?
Balsamic vinegar is pure vinegar. Balsamic vinegar is dark brown in color and has a very robust, slightly sweet flavor. Balsamic vinaigrette is a mixture made with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, sugar, salt and/or other spices. It is typically used as a salad dressing but has other uses in the kitchen as well.
Olive oil and balsamic vinegar are both healthy, natural products that contain a variety of antioxidants and other nutrients that are beneficial for the body.
While balsamic vinegar itself is on the higher side, having 3 carbs per Tablespoon, when made into a vinaigrette it is usually pretty low in carbs and can easily fit into a keto diet. However, you'll need to always check the labels for hidden sugars!