Packed potato chips are salty and crunchy snack that are quite popular with children. They are an inexpensive, tasty and easily available snack, but the toll they take on your body may not be worth the pleasure. While enjoying an occasional handful of chips won’t cause any damage to someone consuming otherwise a healthy diet, the real danger arises when you consume chips on regular basis. Even low fat versions pose a health risk when you eat them in large amounts.
Weight Gain
Chips are typically high in fat and calories about 15 to 20 chips contain about 10 grams of fat and 154 calories, which makes you, gain weight. Being overweight or obese raises the risk of diabetes, heart disease and some forms of cancer.
Lack of Nutrients
Fried potato chips do not contain healthy amounts of vitamins and minerals. While potatoes themselves contain good amounts of potassium and vitamin C, frying them in unhealthy oils can strip these nutrients away, leaving little behind for you to consume. Skin-on potato chips may supply some fiber and protein, but not enough to make potato chips a healthy part of your everyday diet.
High Salt Content
Most potato chips contain added salt to enhance their taste. And you all know that too much salt in your diet can lead to high blood pressure which can lead to stroke, heart failure, coronary heart disease and kidney disease. A serving of potato chips is about 1 oz., but most people consume far more than that amount at one sitting. A 1-oz. serving of plain potato chips contains 180 mg of added salt. Flavored varieties can have even more added salt.
Trans Fat
Many brands of potato chips are cooked in trans fats to prolong their shelf-life and give them a crisp texture. Trans fats are the worst and most dangerous fats you can consume, reports MayoClinic.com, because they raise your bad cholesterol while lowering your good cholesterol. You should read the ingredient label on the brands of potato chips to see if they contain partially hydrogenated oils. These are trans fats and should be avoided in your diet.
Potato chips contain with Acrylamide (it is formed when potatoes are cooked on high temperature and may cause cancer.)
Considerations
If you must have potato chips, serve yourself a small amount and make the rest of your meal nutrient-dense with whole grains, fruits, vegetables and lean proteins all of which contain nutrients that support your overall health and weight. Read labels and look for potato chips made with healthy oils, which will be indicated by a low saturated and trans fat content.