The Hidden Risks of Potato Chips: Health Effects, Chemicals, and Alternatives
The crispy & yummy packet of chips is the most craved snack ever. Who doesn’t like the affordable and accessible packet of snacks? And whenever we talk about healthy or junk food, we often minus these packets of chips. It’s usually not considered among them. Moderate snacking is still better and can not harm your health but over or regular indulgence for a longer period of time can have worse effects on our body. Then ever wondered what and how are the chips made? Let’s know ‘our favorite chips’ better:
How potato chips are made?
Chemicals found in chips packet
It may come as a surprise to learn that when you enjoy a bag of your favorite chips, you may also be consuming chemicals found in household toilet cleaners. Many foods, including fruits and vegetables, are treated with chemicals to help them grow faster and prevent bacterial growth. One of these chemicals is sodium bisulfite, which is used in small quantities in food production. This chemical is also found in some household cleaning agents but in larger quantities. When added to chips and other snacks, it helps extend their shelf life and prevents discoloration that can occur when food is exposed to air.
When used in small amounts, Sodium bisulfite is generally considered safe for consumption when used in small quantities. However, it can be potentially dangerous when added to products that contain Vitamin B12, such as certain varieties of potatoes. It’s important to be aware of the ingredients and preservatives in the products you consume and to consult with a healthcare professional if you have any concerns about the safety of a specific ingredient or chemical.
Negative effects of potato chips on our health
In the Myriad of Studies and research, scientists have concluded several other incredible side effects of eating chips. Some of these are visible in the course of time on your body and some are feeding on us internally & gradually damaging the goodness of our health. Those negative effects are:
1. Fats & High Cholesterol
The quantity and kind of fat included in chips might raise cholesterol levels when consumed often. The majority of chips are deep-fried, which produces trans fats, the most harmful kind. And High levels of LDL cholesterol increase the risk of coronary heart disease.
2. High Blood Pressure
Potato chips typically have 120 to 180 milligrammes of sodium per ounce. Many people ingest more sodium than they think when they eat chips. The salt level of chips deteriorates our cardiovascular health. High salt consumption can raise blood pressure, leading to stroke, heart failure, coronary heart disease, and renal disease.
3. Obesity
The usual high fat and calorie content of chips can increase the risk of weight gain and obesity. About 15 to 20 chips, or one ounce of ordinary potato chips, have 154 calories and 10 grams of fat. Diabetes, heart disease, and some types of cancer are the consequences of being overweight or obese.
4. Heart stroke
High cholesterol, high blood pressure, fats & obesity often ends up in heart diseases or raises the risk of stroke according to studies by Griffin Health.
5. Low Nutritional Value
You might not be getting all the nutrients you need if chips are a frequent component of your diet. Chips usually lack essential vitamins and minerals, and they often take the place of more nutrient-dense foods in diets. If you choose chips over snacks with a high nutrient density, you will not profit from the ability to make up for any nutritional deficiencies at mealtimes.
6. Unhealthy Gut
As we all know now, the chips are made of potatoes using many chemicals & preservatives so the frequent consumption of it can lead to an unhealthy gut and several bowel issues.
7. Possible cause of Cancer
The chemical we earlier talked about, Acrylamide that is present in processed foods has carcinogenic properties leading to a variety of cancers. The bag of chips contains high levels of this chemical and hence is dangerous for health, increasing the rate of cancer.
8. Binge Eating & Depression
The increased consumption of packets of chips not only degenerates your body but also declines your mental health. Regular intake of chips might develop into an obsession or addiction. This binge eating frequently leads to becoming addicted to eating chips all the time. The addition of high amounts of trans fats takes a toll on your mental health leading to depression in the long run.
Before getting habitual about chips or any other such snack, we definitely should have an overview of its processing and get a clear idea about how much harm it can do to our health. Though, the minimal amount doesn’t affect but regular or overconsumption will increase the risks of several health-related problems. So, Before snacking, do some thinking too.