I was returning a couple DVDs to my local Redbox when the sudden urge for a hamburger overtook me.  I swung into the drive-thru of the Golden Arches I was passing and ordered two.  As she handed me the bag I asked for ketchup, must not forget the ketchup.  I pulled over into a space to consume my burgers, generously topping each with extra ketchup.

I had made the realization several times before.  One time it was french fries, another a corn dog.  Over and over again, so many foods are the perfect excuse to eat ketchup.

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Ketchup, or Catsup, or Catchup, or Kitchup, has been around in one form or another since the 17th century.  Nor was it always made from tomatoes.  Today Ketchup is almost exclusively a thick sauce made from tomatoes, vinegar, sugar, and spices.  However in the past it has been made from mushrooms, fish stock, and various other fruits and vegetables.

Ketchup can be found gracing the cupboards of over 97% of the households in America, and rivaled only by salt, pepper, sugar, and for a short while salsa.

Heinz is the largest manufacturer of ketchup in the world.  Supposedly the recipe for Heinz ketchup has not changed since 1876.  I contend that Heinz changed their formula in the late 1980s to early 1990s.  I remember quite specifically that one day, from the emptying of one bottle of Heinz ketchup to the opening of another, the flavor changed.  It changed and I didn’t like the new flavor.  Suddenly the ketchup had an underlying burnt-oil-stale-smoke flavor that I did not like at all.  I presume that some flavor which had been gained by some slower natural process had been replaced by some artificial flavoring that was more cost efficient and quicker.  I guess I’ll never know.

Health Benefits of Ketchup

While some might complain that ketchup is just sugar, they are wrong.  One teaspoon of ketchup only has 16 calories and no fat.

Ketchup also contains lycopene.  Preliminary studies show that cancer, especially prostrate cancer rates go down in direct proportion to the amount of lycopene in someones diet.

Lycopene is an anti-oxidant that provides the red color in fruits and vegetables.  Tomatoes are especially rich in lycopene, and ketchup even more so since lycopene availability is enhanced by cooking.  The lycopene is bound tightly with the vegetable fibers so crushing and increases the amount available in the food.

Since lycopene is absorbed even better in the presence of oils, ketchup makes a perfect delivery system as it is often used as a topping for greasy foods.  Although if you’re eating trans fats and such it may not offset much risk.

Ketchup and Men

It is an unstudied legend that men consume more ketchup than women.  Although it has been shown that men eat out more, and consume more fast food than women.  Since food bought out, especially fast food, is of the variety that goes well with ketchup, there may well be some teeth to the idea that men eat more ketchup.  Quite providential as lycopene is an effective preventitive of prostrate cancer.

Any way you like it, ketchup tastes wonderful, and makes the things you put it on taste wonderful.  Now we know it’s healthy for you too.  So enjoy.

Hey, get your hands off my fries…