We all enjoy delicious foods that also stimulate our smell sense. Therefore, to make foods more tasty, we use a lot variety of sauces and condiments. Teriyaki sauce is one of them. But consuming this flavorful condiment can have other effects on our body too. Which are these effects that we should be aware of?
Teriyaki sauce
Each one of us eats foods for health reasons. But we also want the food to be tasty. It should stimulate our taste and smell senses in a positive way. Hence we use several items to enrich them and give them flavor and aroma. Some are artificial ones. But others are natural.
These substances include spices, herbs, dressings, marinades, condiments, sauces, vinegars and certain juices. Teriyaki sauce is inspired by Japanese cuisine. It is sweet, tangy, and savory. People use it to glaze chicken, meat, fish, tofu, veggies and the like.
Teriyaki sauce (Source: The daring gourmet)Usually, it has sugar, soy sauce, salt, mirin, and sake. Sake is an alcoholic beverage popular in Japan. It is made by fermenting polished rice sans the bran. In the Western versions, they add garlic, ginger, and honey. Some add cornstarch to thicken it.
Besides, enhancing taste, the sauce can have other effects on the body. These include:
Excessive sodium
Most commercial preparations of this sauce have large amounts of salt in them. The soy sauce used in its making is also loaded with salt. One tbsp of the sauce has 689 mg sodium. This sauce can load you with salt and cause high blood pressure, heart diseases with raised risk of strokes.
Irritable bowel syndrome aggravation
Globally, 15% suffer from irritable bowel syndrome or IBS. This sauce can aggravate the condition. The garlic and onion in it contain fermentable carbs that trigger a flare-up. One can have abdominal discomfort, constipation, loose motions, gas, and bloating.
Teriyaki sauce (Source: The foodie takes flight)Excessive sugars
This sauce has lots of sugars in it. One tablespoon has 3 to 8 grams of sugars. Health experts advise caution in intake of sugars. Hence, daily consumption should not exceed 50 grams. If we have a larger amount of teriyaki sauce, we could easily have excessive sugar consumption and its ill-consequences.
Weight gain
This sauce is an ultra processed product with almost nil whole foods. Each tablespoon of the sauce has 15 to 45 calories. This can add up with other calories and lead to calories intake more than calories expenditure. This causes fat accumulation and weight gain.
Teriyaki sauce (Source: No recipes)Easing of abdominal discomfort
Teriyaki sauce has ginger in it. If one has abdominal discomfort or an upset tummy, the sauce can ease it. It soothes stomach pains, heart burns, and nausea. But do not ignore the root cause of the discomfort. Consult a doctor to find it and treat it.
Read more here: 4 condiments that diabetic patients should avoid!
Teriyaki sauce is flavorful. It enriches foods. But have it in moderation. Otherwise, it could cause health issues with regular consumption. One can make it at home. This way you can control the amount of sugar and salt you add in it. And make it healthier.