Have you ever wondered why you cannot get enough of eating spicy chips? The excitement they bring to your taste buds and their ultimate position as the perfect snack or movie companion? Well, what are the odds that spicy chips are bad for you?
Spicy chips are bad for you because they are highly processed foods and contain empty calories instead of essential nutrients. They have high sodium, sugar, and trans/saturated fat that negatively impact cardiovascular health and instigate lifestyle health problems. Lifestyle health problems include but are not limited to obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
Spicy chips are a popular snack option available in several flavors to thrill your taste buds. However, studies show that eating spicy chips might not be the best for your health. This article will take you through three critical reasons spicy chips are bad for you. So, keep reading to learn more!
Three Reasons Spicy Chips Are Bad for You.
Although crunching on your favorite spicy snack makes you feel good, here are three reasons eating Spicy chips might not be in your best interest.
1. Spicy Chips Have a High Sodium Content.
Spicy chips are high in sodium and trans fats, which negatively affect your heart and blood pressure. Essentially, the adult human body, according to the American heart health association, should consume less than 2300 mg of sodium daily.
Therefore, staying within this recommended guideline requires a cut down on snacking since you already get enough salt (sodium) for your daily diet. Also, high blood sodium has been linked to fluid retention within the body tissues, leading to edema (swelling of the leg and face).
Furthermore, fluid retention in your body can cause you to appear like you have gained ten extra pounds. Not to mention the overall increase in blood cholesterol and triglycerides, all of which can cause the constriction of your blood vessels and weight gain.
Therefore you might want to reduce your consumption of spicy chips to maintain your figure and not feel bloated or puffy.
2. Spicy Chips Are Nutritionally Low
Eating nutrient-dense foods is essential for healthy living, and spicy chips do not fit into the nutrient-dense foods category. Most spicy chips are not 100 percent organic, as they fit into the category of ultra-processed foods and contain empty calories.
If you are particular about your weight, you might want to stay away or reduce your spicy chips consumption rate. The reason is that the empty calories they contain give the illusion of satiety. As a result, you are prone to consuming several servings of spicy chips to feel satisfied.
On the contrary healthy, natural, and nutrient-dense foods contain essential nutrients and fiber that keep you full for much longer. As a result, you do not have to eat severely, which is excellent for better weight management.
Here is a table showing the nutritional information of most spicy chips—for instance, a 28g serving of Takis.
| Nutritional Contents | Quantity per 28g serving of Takis |
| Calories | 140 |
| Carbohydrates | 17g |
| Fat | 8g |
| Sodium | 410mg |
| Protein | 2g |
| Fiber | 1g |
| Calcium | 8.12mg |
| Potassium | 1.12mg |
3. Spicy Chips May Negatively Impact Your Digestive Health.
Most people with digestive issues like IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and acid reflux report negative experiences when they consume spicy chips. Also, people with peptic or gastric ulcers might experience severe discomfort after eating spicy chips.
However, it doesn’t mean that people with digestive problems cannot eat spicy chips, as long as they eat them in moderation and take their medication regularly.
Is It Dangerous To Eat Spicy Chips?
Eating spicy chips will certainly not kill you. However, consuming large portions of spicy chips can be a potential health hazard. The reason is that spicy chips are not real food that your body requires for optimal functioning.
Spicy chips are ultra-processed foods high in sodium, carbohydrates, trans fats, and preservatives. As a result, consuming large portions of spicy chips over time can result in lifestyle illnesses like obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, etc.
Therefore, eating spicy chips is dangerous when you make a habit without exercising portion control. On the other hand, you can consume spicy chips occasionally as part of a healthy diet and in small amounts.
Fast-Food Culture and Its Relationship With Spicy Chips Addiction
Our fast-paced society created the advent of fast foods. As a result, very few people find the time to cook organic home-cooked meals because they have to hurry through life.
Consequently, as people got busier, they resorted to snacks and fast foods to curb their hunger pangs. Interestingly, the quick availability of foods supported by fast foods creates a cycle of dependence, resulting in unconscious fast food addiction.
Furthermore, as a marketing and sales strategy, some spicy chip manufacturing companies include MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) as a flavor enhancer. The MSG causes people to return for more spicy chips because of its influence on spicy chips’ overall taste and flavor.
Why Do You Need Healthier Alternatives to Spicy Chips?
Most spicy chips are addictive because of their high sodium content. Also, some spicy chip manufacturing companies use MSG, a highly addictive food additive (monosodium glutamate), to boost sales.
Unfortunately, spicy chips are not as nutritious as you might think, especially with so many preservatives. The reason is that they are highly processed foods, rich in trans fats and other saturated fatty acids. As a result, they significantly spike your blood sugar and sodium levels, throwing your body’s internal environment into disarray.
Therefore, your body needs more nutrient-dense foods to repair worn-out tissues and maintain the organization of its internal functionality. Since spicy chips contain empty calories and can create a strong addition in regular consumers, replacing them with healthier alternatives is best.
For instance, even though they are still high in sodium, baked potato chips and tortilla chips are lower in calories. Other healthier options include but are not limited to air-popped corn, baked vegetables or apple chips, fruits and vegetables, etc.
Here are healthier options list for spicy chips.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Spicy Chips Bad for Kids?
Spicy chips are not bad for kids, depending on how frequently you let them consume them. Most kids are in their rapid growth stage and need more nutrient-dense and natural foods. Unfortunately, spicy chips do not contain essential nutrients required for kids to grow.
Why Is Eating So Many Spicy Chips Bad for Your Health?
Too much of everything is terrible and spicy chips are no exception. Spicy chips are high in sodium and can negatively impact your heart health, alter your blood pressure and affect your kidney’s water balance. Also, increased blood sodium contributes to leg swelling and other forms of swollen tissues in the body.
Can You Get Acne From Eating Spicy Chips?
You cannot get acne from eating spicy chips because most acne is caused by the bacteria, acne vulgaris, and other hormonal factors. However, spicy chips are a type of processed food, and too many processed foods can upset the balance of your hormones to make you vulnerable to getting more acne due to excess facial oils.
Final Thoughts
Even though spicy chips are harmless, you should exercise caution while eating them, especially by monitoring the portions or quantity you consume and how frequent. As cliche as it may sound, “too much of anything is bad,” and so are spicy chips. Hopefully, this piece gives you a head start on minimizing your spicy chips consumption rate.
