Kewpie mayonnaise remains one of my favorite condiments. It is great on a sandwich, and with a little twist in its ingredients, it could be used for steak and fish, and it has lots of healthy fats. But can diabetics have kewpie mayo?
Here is everything you need to know about kewpie mayo for diabetics: if it is safe to consume or if you should ditch it for other mayonnaise, plus other condiments you could also eat as a diabetic.
Kewpie mayo
Kewpie mayonnaise is a Japanese mayonnaise characterized by its tangy-sweet and umami flavor. Unlike the typical mayonnaise, which uses the whole egg, kewpie mayo is made using only egg yolks. Hence, it has a deeper yellow color and a smoother texture.
This mayo is not only used for specific Japanese foods or sandwiches; it could be used for just about anything that needs a mayo condiment. It fits in well with a salad dressing, a ham-bugger, a tasty dip for veggies, and can be mixed into a shawarma sauce.
The main ingredients are just egg yolks and olive oil, which makes it a high-fat food, but it still has way less fat when compared to your regular mayonnaise.
Is kewpie mayo unhealthy?
While there are a lot of fats and proteins, with trace amounts of micronutrients, you could still find some carbs and fiber, which may make the condiment seem unbalanced, but this doesn’t make kewpie mayo unhealthy.
The benefits of kewpie mayonnaise can be further enhanced if it is eaten in addition to a balanced diet. More like when we use it for salad dressings, its protein and fat are complemented with the veggies.
Depending on the oil used, kewpie mayo may not contain lots of healthy fats. I prefer using avocado oil or olive oil when I make the condiment at home. This significantly increases the monosaturated fats, which lowers cholesterol levels and significantly improves glycaemic control.
Usually, yolks contain 1.6 g of saturated fat, which is not bad considering the vitamin A, folate, and protein that are also obtained, but should be eaten in moderation.
Is kewpie mayo good for diabetics?
As a diabetic, it is okay to have kewpie mayo as it contains 11 grams of fat per tablespoon and 0 carbs, making kewpie mayo for diabetics safe. Further, using avocado oil heightens the healthy fat content, and according to ScienceDirect, fats are known to reduce glycemic responses (how fast sugar goes into the blood).
Additionally, the mustard used in kewpie mayo is more of a colorant and also contributes to the flavor profile of the condiment. The rice vinegar used makes kewpie mayonnaise for diabetics even safer, as it is known to reduce insulin spikes, according to WebMD.
As a diabetic, proper protein and healthy fat intake is necessary to manage your HbA1c levels, and blood sugar and condiments like kewpie can be eaten in moderation without problems related to blood sugar.
However, there is a caveat: you don’t want to gain so much weight while having diabetes; you need to watch your calorie intake, which will aid you in maintaining a normal weight.
Each tablespoon of kewpie mayo supplies over 100 calories, which is not bad if you’re on a 2000-calorie diet. However, the more you consume, in addition to other foods you may have had that day, your calorie intake could significantly increase.
Other Condiments you could consume as a diabetic
While we have established that kewpie mayonnaise for diabetics is safe, we also want to shed light on other mayonnaise you could consume if you have:
Homemade mayonnaise
This is the very best option. When you make any food at home for yourself, you’re guaranteed to make the best since you will be using only safe ingredients while expelling ingredients with potential allergens like MGS. To make kewpie mayonnaise at home, here is a gluten-free homemade kewpie mayonnaise for diabetics.
Store-bought Mayonnaise
When getting store-bought mayo, you should always look at the labels—check for the carb content, and if it is low, you’re good to go. My favorite store-bought options include Hellmann’s Light, Vegenaise Reduced Fat Mayo, and Kraft Reduced Fat Mayo.
Chimichurri
The chimichurri condiment is based on herbs, and it can be easily customized to taste (by using herbs of choice). It is healthy, has low carbs, and is a great spread on fish and steak. All you need to bring it to life is olive oil, red wine vinegar, cilantro, rosemary, and red pepper flakes (optional).
Bearnaise Sauce
This is a butter-based bearnaise sauce that instantly elevates any meal you use it in. It can be drizzled on fish, meat, cooked veggies, and even shine in your egg Benedict. This beautiful sauce can be put together with egg yolks, chervil, white wine, shallots, tarragon, and butter. A cup of this source will only supply 5 grams of carbs. Awesome!
Final Thoughts
As a diabetic, portion size can never be overstated. You could enjoy lots of foods with a good portion size. Kewpie mayonnaise for diabetics is very safe as there are almost zero carbs, but you have to enjoy it in moderation so as not to mess up your waistline over time.
