Mayonnaise
This white and delicious sauce is very popular with people all over the world.
Almost any food is eaten with mayonnaise - shawarma and hot dogs, all kinds of salads. It is also used as a marinade for meat, replacing vinegar and wine. The amazing taste properties of mayonnaise have earned him great fame, but at the same time, this product has received a lot of criticism.
The history of the creation of mayonnaise
In the distant 18th century, French troops under the leadership of the Duke of Richelieu laid siege to the Spanish city of Mahon. The long siege led to the fact that the French army had serious problems with provisions. Only olive oil, eggs, salt and some spices remained in stock. Eating only eggs very quickly got tired of the soldiers, and then the Duke of Richelieu ordered the cooks to invent a delicious dish from the available products. It was then that the recipe for Mahon sauce - mayonnaise was invented.
Mayonnaise: calories and nutritional properties
Since fats are considered the main carriers of taste, it can be argued that the more fatty it is, the better the taste properties of mayonnaise. In European countries, there are special standards that establish the fat content and calorie content of mayonnaise. So, salad mayonnaise should have a fat content of 50 to 70%. If the fat content is less, then such a product is already called salad dressing, but not mayonnaise.
The mayonnaise sold in Russia can be divided into three groups according to its calorie content:
- Classic mayonnaise - contains over 55% fat. Its caloric content exceeds 600 kcal per 100.0 g of product;
- Medium fat mayonnaise - the proportion of fat in it is from 40 to 55%, and its calorie content is from 380 to 550 kcal;
- Light mayonnaise - the calorie content of this product is from 100 to 350 kcal, and the fat content in it is less than 40%.
The glycemic index of the average calorie mayonnaise is 60. It contains 5.2% carbohydrates, 40% fat and 0.5% protein.
The harm of mayonnaise
Mayonnaise, prepared industrially and sold in stores, can hardly be called a useful product for human health, because it contains large quantities of preservatives and acids necessary to increase the shelf life of the product. The harm of industrial mayonnaise is also due to the fact that instead of natural eggs, producers use soy or egg lecithin and emulsifiers. These substances give the mayonnaise a classic taste, but they are far from safe for health. Store-bought mayonnaise also contains glutamates and other flavor enhancers that are food addictive.
The benefits of mayonnaise
Useful properties of mayonnaise are determined by the properties of its constituent products:
- Eggs are rich in an easily digestible protein called albumin, and their yolk is a valuable source of choline, an essential component of the B complex of vitamins. Eggs are also believed to be rich in cholesterol, but in order to get the minimum daily intake of this substance, you need to eat about 80 eggs!
- Vegetable oil - contains polyunsaturated fatty acids and good cholesterol. Due to its high energy value, it is a source of easily digestible energy. Vegetable oil contains vitamins F and E. In addition, vegetable oil helps the absorption of vitamin A from the gastrointestinal tract.
- Vinegar - destroys pathogenic bacteria that could get into mayonnaise during its preparation. But to increase the benefits of mayonnaise, it is recommended to add apple cider vinegar, which has healing properties, instead of the usual one.
The benefits of homemade mayonnaise are beyond doubt. But it should be prepared only from high quality and fresh products. It should also be remembered that mayonnaise is a perishable product. Never eat it if it has not been refrigerated as it will this can cause food poisoning to be quite serious.
But mayonnaise lovers shouldn't forget that mayonnaise, even if made at home, is just a sauce and should only be used as a seasoning, not as a main dish. Its fat content is almost twice that of sour cream, and with a significant use of mayonnaise, you can easily gain extra pounds, which leads to the development of obesity, hypertension, and diseases of the cardiovascular system. In everything you need to know when to stop and observe the norms of a healthy diet!
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