Stay away from store bought salad dressings and, for the most part, the “all natural” versions as well.

Here are some of the reasons why:

1. Pick up any salad dressing bottle and you’ll likely see canola oil, soybean oil, and/or vegetable oil as the main ingredients. These oils are heavily processed, rich in inflammation-promoting Omega-6 fatty acids, and often times contain trans fats that aren’t disclosed on the label due to how processed they are.

“All-natural” salad dressing found in the refrigerated section aren’t much different. You’ll see these oils as the base of nearly all of those brands. Why? They’re cheap!

Also, don’t be fooled by labels that claim “Made with Extra Virgin Olive Oil.” Sure, it sounds good and leads you to believe that it’s an EVOO-based dressing. Instead, it only means that there is at least a drop of extra virgin olive oil in the bottle, and oftentimes that’s all it has. Flip the label over and you’ll see the same vegetable oils listed first and extra virgin olive oil way down on the list of ingredients.

2. In addition to cheap, potentially harmful oils, store bought salad dressing is also loaded with sugar. Even worse, it often comes in the form of high fructose corn syrup (the worst form of sugar available).

3. Finally, we have the long list of artificial additives and preservatives that often plague these products. If you’re looking to avoid artificial chemicals in your food, you won’t have much luck with store bought salad dressing.

Instead of purchasing these bottled dressings, make your own simply by mixing some Italian seasoning or any combination of your favorite seasonings + REAL extra virgin olive oil + vinegar (or lemon juice). Easy and tasty!