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Is ketchup OK for people with diabetes? Get the facts here.

Serving size: 1 Tbsp (17 g)

Carbs: 5 g

Calories: 171

Glycemic index: unavailable*

Glycemic load: unavailable*

Ketchup is a surprisingly sweet condiment thanks to its ingredient list — typically tomato paste, vinegar, various seasonings and sugar or high fructose corn syrup. That shows in its carbohydrate count: a tablespoon of ketchup has 5 grams of carbs. If you stick to a single serving, that’s really no big deal. But watch the amount you use — those carbs can add up quickly!

On the plus side, ketchup packs a lot of flavor with very few calories. It also has lycopene, an antioxidant that gives tomatoes its red color. But don’t bank on ketchup for nutrition: for that, rely on fresh tomatoes and other tomato products, like a lower-sugar tomato sauce.

Quick tip: Try reduced-sugar ketchup, which has just 1 carb per serving. You can also try replacing ketchup with other condiments: go for salsa or spices like cumin on eggs or apple cider vinegar or chopped fresh herbs on french fries.

*Hasn't been analyzed but does contain carbs.

Published on August 10, 2016.

— Compiled by Kerri-Ann Jennings, MS, RD