How Does Chips Harm Us?

Chips are without a doubt a favorite food of hundreds and it is no coincidence that many people are against imposing an additional tax on potato products. The reason chips are considered a harmful food is that a package is full of fat, salt and sugar, which in addition to harming the body, stimulate the pleasure centers in the brain and lead to an irresistible desire to consume them.

Scientists are unanimous that frequent consumption of chips can cause irreparable damage to health precisely because of these ingredients. It is no secret that packaged foods of this type contain a number of other harmful substances: preservatives, flavor enhancers , colors, etc., which ultimately turn out to be expensive.

What are the direct health risks of chips?

Being overweight is not just an aesthetic problem - it is directly linked to the emergence of many socially significant diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and some forms of cancer . For example, 100 g of chips contain more than 500 calories, 40 g of fat and nearly 50 g of carbohydrates.

According to a study published in The New England Journal , regular consumption of chips contributes to weight gain of about 2 kg within 4 years.

Nutritionists believe that the link between chips and weight gain is much stronger than that of pastries, fatty meats and fizzy drinks.

The potato product is among the main sources of the so-called " Empty calories " - foods that fill you up, but do not supply the body with vital substances. Naturally, chips do not contain vitamins and minerals, and by preferring it to other products, one deprives one's body of building blocks.

In the 21st century, hypertension has literally become an epidemic. And here the culprit is unhealthy foods, among which the leader is again chips. The high presence of salt in it can "poison" the body with sodium, which contributes to the development of chronic high blood pressure and thus increases the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and heart attack.

Eating chips regularly "shoots" cholesterol to very dangerous levels. The reason is the excessive presence of trans fats in it. Its increase can cause the development of heart disease, which can be fatal.

Many deaths are due to the accumulation of fatty plaques in the walls of blood vessels, leading to their narrowing, obstruction and the development of atherosclerosis . Cholesterol plays a significant role in this preventable condition.

According to researchers at the University of Bristol, overdosing on chips can slow and damage mental health , especially among children . The cause of these problems lies in saturated fat. They interfere with the proper functioning of brain cells and damage the hormonal balance.

Experts believe that children with such problems later have low school performance and problems with discipline in the family and in the classroom.

Healthier alternatives to chips

French fries or baked at home are also not recommended for regular consumption, but are a much better solution every time you have an appetite for chips. Of course, it is necessary to pay attention to the amounts of salt and fat used in their preparation.