Nutrition Smack Down: Salsa, Guacamole and Queso - Health News Hub (2024)

FAQs

Which is healthier, salsa or queso? ›

Salsa is lower in calories, with no fat and has many beneficial vitamins. Our recommendation? Don't avoid queso or guacamole in moderation (they're delicious!), but if you want a flavorful, low-calorie snack you can fill up on without added guilt, grab some salsa.

It's all about the fat

Ultimately, this match-up comes down to fat – and because avocados contain the healthiest fats, guacamole is king. “Avocados are an excellent plant source of dietary fat,” Allers says.

Guac and chips is one of our all-time top go-tos for healthy snacking when it's done right. The combination of avocados with other fresh ingredients gives you plenty of healthy fat to fuel your muscles during intense workouts, and vitamins and minerals to help sustain the recovery process post exercise.

Guacamole contains 50 calories per 30 g serving. This serving contains 4 g of fat, 1 g of protein and 3 g of carbohydrate.

Most salsa contains salt, and some has added sugar. You don't want excess salt in your diet. Limiting to a few tablespoons of salsa a day is probably fine. There are some good micronutrients in the salsa which you can benefit from.

Hummus, with its chickpea base, wins with certain nutrients, like protein, zinc, and iron, while guacamole helps avocado fans slim down with fewer calories and carbs, heart-healthy fats, and potassium.

A daily dose of avocado is good for your heart. Research has shown that people who eat avocados every day have higher levels of HDL, the "good" cholesterol. Avocados also may be good for your gut biome. But they're high in calories, so stick to recommended serving sizes.

Carrots (and other raw veggies).

This is kind of a no brainer. Some of my favorites are carrots, radishes, and celery!

What Is the Difference Between Avocado and Guacamole? We know the answer is obvious to most of you, but nevertheless, a lot of people ask this question. The difference between avocado and guacamole is: the first item is a fruit, and the second item is a dip using that fruit.

For comparison, avocado is about ½ the calories of mayo: two tablespoons of avocado contain 50 calories compared with 100 calories for the same amount of mayonnaise. Avocado also contains half the fat (4.5g to 9g) and is cholesterol free.

Is store bought guacamole healthy for you? ›

Don't have time to make your own? Dig into one of the tasty options we found. Guacamole is one of the healthiest dips you can eat—you can actually consider it a vegetable. Avocado, the main ingredient, is rich in fiber, potassium, and antioxidants.

While guacamole does have numerous health benefits, there are a few things you want to watch for. First, consider the sodium. Store brands tend to be higher in sodium than homemade versions. But you still want to be careful not to have too heavy of a hand when adding salt at home.

Avocados are high in potassium and low in salt. Because of this they are recognized for their ability to lower blood pressure and protect against heart attack and stroke. Avocados are also recommended by the DASH Diet.In this post we bring to you several delicious avocado rich recipes.

Guacamole is typically lower in calories than other dips, like those using ranch or sour cream, says Dana Hunnes, an adjunct assistant professor at UCLA's Fielding School of Public Health and a registered dietitian.

While it can be high in calories and sodium, it can provide protein, essential vitamins, and minerals, and contribute to a well-rounded diet when consumed in moderation. By being mindful of portion sizes and considering ingredient choices, you can enjoy queso as part of a healthy lifestyle.

It's low in calories, but full of flavor

One serving of salsa is 2 tablespoons, which is on average less than 10 calories. Feel free to top all of your favorite foods with salsa. There's no need to limit your portions.

Tostitos Salsa Con Queso

But popularity and even good taste do not a good dip choice make. This cheesy, mildly spiced dip gets 25 of its 40 per-serving calories from fat, it features multiple preservatives and artificial colors, and, as with most all of these dips, it's packed with sodium.

You don't have to avoid cheese if you have high cholesterol. Though cheese does contain cholesterol, it's the saturated fat that will have more of an impact on your blood cholesterol levels. Go ahead and eat cheese in moderation and with other nutrient-rich foods as part of a balanced diet.