The Wonders Of Ketchup

It's estimated that ketchup is in more than 80 percent of all homes in Canada. Ketchup is easily one of the most-used products around the whole world.

It is the inseparable companion of the french fry and the burger. Americans use ketchup on hamburgers, hot dogs and french fries. People in China like to use it on fried chicken, but in Sweden it's used on pasta. In Thailand teens dip potato chips in ketchup, while in Eastern Europe it is a favourite pizza topping.

But ketchup is more, much more, than a mere condiment.

It could aid in prostate cancer prevention. Yes it does, the H.J. Heinz Co. argues in all seriousness, which is busily repositioning its flagship condiment as just that.

It's the lycopene in tomatoes. And there is evidence, although it is still far from a certainty, that lycopene somehow wards off prostate cancer.

And from Readers Digest we get:

Ketchup isn’t just for hot dogs and burgers. It has unusual stain-fighting powers as well:

POOL HAIR: Does chlorine turn your blond hair green? Fight back with a ketchup shampoo. Massage ketchup liberally into your hair, leave on for 15 minutes and rinse out with baby shampoo. Not only should the discoloration be gone but the chlorine smell, too.

COPPER: Brighten your copper pots and pans using ketchup as a cheap tarnish remover. And you won’t need gloves. Coat the copper surface with a thin layer of ketchup and let sit for five to 30 minutes, depending on the severity of tarnish. Rinse and dry immediately.

SILVER: Ketchup will help your silver rings, bracelets and earrings sparkle. If they have a smooth surface, dunk them in a small bowl of ketchup for a few minutes. If they have a tooled or detailed look, use an old toothbrush to work ketchup into crevices.
To avoid damaging the silver, don’t leave ketchup on for longer than necessary. Rinse clean and dry thoroughly.