Dr. Becky Maes - Is It Bad For You? Approved by Dr. Becky Maes

Is Miracle Whip Bad For You?


Grade

D


Short answer

Overall, Miracle Whip falls somewhere in the middle of things that are good and bad for you. If you eat an excessive amount of Miracle Whip, it is possible that you run into some serious trouble.

Grade

D

Recommended Alternative


Long answer

A lower fat alternative to mayonnaise, Miracle Whip isn't necessarily healthier.  First, the good news - Miracle Whip contains just 40 calories per tablespoon.  Furthermore, while it does have 3.5 grams of total fat, it has absolutely no trans fat.  Miracle Whip is also an excellent source of vitamin K (over 10% of the daily recommended value).  Vitamin K helps transport calcium to bones and is vital in blood clotting properly.  Studies have even shown that vitamin K helps fight Alzheimer's disease.  

Unfortunately, Miracle Whip has a fairly high amount of sodium, with one tablespoon holding in excess of 100 milligrams.  High amounts of sodium can lead to hypertension and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, heart attack, and stroke as well as cause damage to the liver and kidneys.  What's even worse, the sugar found within Miracle Whip comes from high fructose corn syrup, which is one of the worst - if not the worst- source of sugar possible. HFCS is a type of sugar that when taken excessively gets stored as fat in the liver, leading to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. As if that's not bad enough, many studies have linked HFCS to diabetes, high cholesterol, and metabolic syndrome. 

Miracle Whip is also full of GMO products: the aforementioned high fructose corn syrup, soybean oil, and modified corn starch.  While many websites are dedicated to dispelling the "myth" that GMOs are actually safe for human consumption, the fact is that the jury is still out. Many scientists have concluded GMOs have the potential to cause new diseases never seen before and have the ability to cause infertility, cancer, and damage to vital organs. With that said, do you really want to risk your health if you don't need to?  

Lastly, due to its corn and soy ingredients, Miracle Whip may cause an allergic reaction for some people.


Possible short-term side effects

  • headache
  • allergic reaction
  • increased blood sugar levels

Possible long-term side effects

  • heart disease
  • heart attack
  • stroke
  • hypertension kidney damage
  • liver damage
  • obesity
  • cancer
  • non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Ingredients to be aware of


Benefits

  • low in calories
  • contains no trans fats
  • good source of vitamin k

Healthier alternatives

  • homemade mayonnaise

Our Wellness Pick (what is this?)

MAYO with Avocado Oil

  • Made with avocado oil
  • Heart-healthy fats
  • Rich, creamy texture
  • Non-GMO
  • Large 32 oz bottle
Learn More!



Thank you for your feedback!

Written by Jeff Volling
Published on: 01-15-2016
Last updated: 12-15-2023

Thank you for your feedback!

Written by Jeff Volling
Published on: 01-15-2016
Last updated: 12-15-2023




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