LOW-SODIUM RANCH DRESSING - Tasty, Healthy Heart Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Is ranch dressing heart healthy? ›

If you are watching your salt intake, you may want to be cautious about consuming ranch dressing. While it is not one of the higher sodium salad dressings, some brands contain as much as 300 milligrams of sodium or more. The American Heart Association suggests that we consume no more than 2,300 milligrams per day.

This distinction is important to know when deciphering whether or not a given product is healthy. Generally speaking, the healthiest salad dressing will be a vinaigrette like balsamic or oil and vinegar, while Caesar, ranch or anything with the word “creamy” will be the unhealthiest.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Nutrient Database, 1 serving or 30 g of commercially prepared regular ranch salad dressing has 55 mg phosphorus, 19 mg potassium, and 270 mg sodium.

Simple balsamic vinaigrette. Balsamic vinegar is full of flavour and olive oil is full of unsaturated fats which, when consumed in moderation, are good for your heart health.

Be sure to look for the “low-sodium” variety. Reduced-fat ranch dressing is a better choice containing approximately 336 mg sodium for two tablespoons. Soy sauce: One tablespoon of soy sauce has 1,005mg sodium. When shopping at the grocery store or eating at a restaurant, choose low-sodium or light soy sauce.

Caesar dressing. Made up of mayonnaise, cheese, salt and oil (and all too often, anchovies), Caesar tends to be one of the least healthy options out there. Those ingredients cause it to be high in both saturated fats and sodium.

Try a little lemon juice, lime juice, or a light vinaigrette. I have a bottle of walnut oil in my pantry which is very nice on salads, along with white wine vinegar and a little salt and pepper. You can also add yogurt or mustard and some fresh or dried herbs to your dressing.

Which ranch dressing has the least sodium? ›

TESSEMAE'S Organic Classic Ranch, 10 FZ.

Leafy greens: Cabbage, collard greens, spinach, kale, and other greens are high in nitrates, which have been found to offer blood pressure benefits. It's easier to get your daily dose of greens by varying how you eat them.

Worst: Salad With Creamy Dressing

Dressings like ranch, blue cheese, and Thousand Island are often high in calories, unhealthy saturated fat, and sodium.

Dressings like Thousand Island and ranch are cream-based and may be high in cholesterol. Using avocado is a great way to have a creamy salad dressing without the saturated fats derived from animal products. Vinaigrette-based salad dressings use vinegar and oils.

Ranch is undoubtedly a very famous salad dressing. The tangy taste of buttermilk with onions and garlic is adored by so many. However, the ranch dressing you love so much is loaded with saturated fats and sodium. Saturated fats are difficult for your body to metabolize, which leads to weight gain.

Worst: Salad With Creamy Dressing

Dressings like ranch, blue cheese, and Thousand Island are often high in calories, unhealthy saturated fat, and sodium. A 2-tablespoon serving of a typical blue cheese dressing tacks on nearly 150 calories and more than 15 grams of fat.

Is it healthier to eat no salad or salad and dressing? It's definitely healthier to eat salad. Raw vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet. A small amount of dressing is not a horrible thing.