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Chips are an extremely popular snack. The total global market for the sale of this product is estimated at more than $47 billion. Why and how harmful are chips for adults and children? Why can't you eat chips? Is it possible to get poisoned by this snack and how often is it recommended to be consumed by modern nutritionists? You will read about this and much more in our article.

Production and composition of a popular type of snacks

Chips, as you know, come in different varieties. The main ingredient of the vast majority of this type of product is potatoes, but they are also made from various root vegetables and even fruits.

The classic product recipe was developed by the chef George Crum back in the 1850s, these are very thinly sliced potatoes, simply deep-fried using the standard "french fry" technique. For more than a century and a half, large manufacturers of convenience foods and snacks have significantly modified the composition of the product in order to simplify and reduce the cost of its mass production.

The exact recipe of the most famous market players is a trade secret. Usually, the potato itself in the product is no more than 40-50 percent– the rest is replaced by a number of additives. Such additions include risk, wheat, corn and other ingredients of a similar series, as well as special inclusions in the form of spices, flavor enhancers, preservatives and substances that allow the product to retain its shape and consistency for a long time.

From all the necessary ingredients, a suspension is created by grinding and mixing, which is later pressed, rolled, curved and cut, after which it is deep-fried, dried, treated with powdered or liquid flavorings, and packaged in packs.

Harm of chips to health

Modern nutritionists and numerous individual specialists classify chips as the most unhealthy snack. The main negative aspects of the effect of chips on the body:

High total calorie content. The average energy value of chips ranges from 500 to 750 Kcal/100 grams of product, which is a kind of record among all snacks. The well-known “beer belly” in men is caused not so much by the beer itself as a drink, but by a tasty, but extremely high-calorie addition. During an evening in a bar or at home, you can easily consume up to 200 grams of chips without even noticing it, which in itself is the minimum daily dose of the recommended energy value of the diet, and regular such events provoke obesity;

Trans fats. Modern chip manufacturers proudly report the absence of cholesterol in their products, but do not specify the type of polyunsaturated fats, most of which (about 10-15 percent of the total weight of the product) are in the trans configuration. According to WHO global statistical studies, Trans fats significantly increase the likelihood of developing cardiovascular diseases, increase the risk of developing cancer and disrupt the functioning of a number of metabolic processes, including inhibiting the functions of prostaglandins, testosterone and cytochrome oxidase;
Potential carcinogenic effect. The specifics of the production cycle of most enterprises producing modern chips involve a relatively long frying stage (from 30 seconds to 1 minute). In this case, heat treatment of a starchy product (at the recommended 5-15 seconds) provokes the formation of acrylamide, a monomeric amide-acrylic acid, a potential carcinogen. Moreover, about 10 percent of it, when ingested, breaks down to form glycidamide, a much more dangerous compound with a proven toxic effect;
Numerous additives. Large quantities of salt, monosodium glutamate, powerful flavorings and other additional ingredients cannot in any way be considered beneficial or even neutral for the human body.

Why are chips harmful for children?

Chips are loved not only by adult men, but also by children - crispy and flavorful pieces in bright packaging become a desirable purchase for them in the store. A child who frequently uses these products puts their health at even greater risk than an adult.

Regular consumption of chips by children nullifies all the principles of a healthy balanced diet, provokes the development of obesity, as well as metabolic disorders.

In addition, the results of deep-frying the product in production bring additional harm - numerous compounds are formed, some of which are considered carcinogenic.

They can accumulate over time and provoke the development of pathologies of the cardiovascular and urinary systems, disrupt the functioning of the liver, and create preconditions (act as one of the provoking factors) for the development of malignant tumors.

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Consequences of frequent use

Despite all the possible pathological problems and harmfulness of chips associated with their consumption, this snack still remains very popular and is in no way limited in distribution. What is the reason? The main feature is the frequency of use of the product.

If you eat chips extremely rarely, then, naturally, no negative symptoms will appear - the individual systems of the human body cope well with the filtering function and simply neutralize the potential health threat.

However, chips are dangerous because the more regularly a person eats the snack described above, combining it with equally harmful additions, the higher the chances of developing medium- and long-term consequences, the most typical of which are:

Obesity with a persistent metabolic disorder in the body;
Various allergic manifestations, including both local rashes such as urticaria, and systemic reactions, up to pathologies of the autoimmune spectrum;
Persistent violations work of the cardiovascular system with an increased risk of atherosclerosis and heart attack;
Frequent dyspeptic disorders, disorders of the digestive process with the development of gastritis and other gastrointestinal pathologies;
Potential danger education and development of oncological processes.

How often can you eat chips without harming your body? Nutritionists recommend doing this as little as possible. Naturally, if a person eats 1 small pack every six months, then there will be no negative consequences or harm to the body. However, when chips are consumed several times a week or even a day for months, this is a good reason to worry about your own health.

Which chips are the most harmful?

As mentioned above, chips are different and the degree of harmfulness of the product as a whole depends on the technology of their production, as well as the presence of a number of substances in the composition.

Homemade chips can be considered one of the most harmless chips for the human body, since they are made from a natural product (in particular, 100 percent potatoes) and are usually fried not in boiling oil, but in a frying pan or by classical drying with the addition of a small amount of salt;

Can you be allergic to chips?

Allergy to chips is a typical problem with both regular and rare consumption of this product. This is due to individual components of the product added during its production.

In most cases, a person develops classic signs of food allergies with a local rash and gastrointestinal disorders, but sometimes systemic reactions are also diagnosed, including autoimmune responses.

The problem in the above situation may be caused by:

Potato or starch based on it. Sometimes found in people prone to food allergies;
Oil plant based. The production of products usually uses vegetable oil based on corn, sunflower, rapeseed or olives, which can be a potential allergen;
Lactic acid. Chips contain small amounts of lactic acid and lactose, which can cause pathological manifestations if these components are intolerant;
Supplements Monosodium glutamate and guanylate, paprika, pepper, onion-garlic and cheese powder, various synthetic flavors also provoke allergies when used regularly.

Product poisoning and assistance with intoxication

Modern clinical practice regularly reveals cases of chips poisoning around the world - this trend is not widespread, but from time to time it is diagnosed in patients complaining of dyspeptic disorders. You can be poisoned by this product in the following situations:

Failure to use the correct technology within the production cycle. The use of new untested recipes in the production of chips, various violations of biological safety regulations, poor sealing of packaging, leading to the development of fungal and bacterial infections inside the product, other factors can affect the final quality of the product;
Improper storage of chips. If storage conditions are met, chips have a fairly long shelf life. However, if they are violated (too high humidity in warehouses, keeping the packages in direct sunlight for a long time, and so on), then no one can determine the exact timing of their possible safe use as a snack;
Problems with the gastrointestinal tract. For people with chronic or acute diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as children and the elderly, the chances of food poisoning even from suitable chips are quite high, especially if the product is consumed without measure.

As a rule, intoxication due to chips poisoning is moderate in nature without systemic pathologies and is accompanied by classic dyspeptic disorders (vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain), as well as general lethargy, weakness, and sometimes headache.

In the case of allergies, the manifestations are more dangerous - from shortness of breath to the appearance of bloody inclusions in stool, urine, and vomit. The victim must be hospitalized in the intensive care unit.

Possible actions at home:

Gastric lavage;
Use of sorbents;
Bed rest;
Drink plenty of small sips.

If symptoms of poisoning do not disappear within several days, or progress – you need to call an ambulance.

Chips sold in stores are not a natural product. They contain many chemical additives that are harmful even if used once. Why are chips harmful to human health, and why are they dangerous?

History of appearance

Once in an American restaurant, a dissatisfied customer returned coarsely chopped potatoes a couple of times. The chef decided to play a joke on this client by cutting the potatoes too thin and frying them in oil, making them crispy.

The visitor liked this version of the dish, and the head of the establishment added it to the menu. Subsequently, such a snack began to be sold in bags.

Chemical composition

Chips from any manufacturer are dangerous for the body, because there is almost nothing natural in them. Originally, this dish was actually made from potatoes. However, now chips are made from flour or starches. Starch from genetically modified soybeans is often used.

They also contain monosodium glutamate and flavorings. This product is fried in a large amount of vegetable oil, as a result of which carcinogens appear in the chips. The use of starch and vegetable fats is indicated by the fact that the chips burn when set on fire.

Are chips harmful?

A natural product is fried potatoes. So why are chips unhealthy? In fact, most manufacturers make them from potato flour. Such flour does not contain a single useful element. Also, chips contain a lot of salt, which retains fluid in the body. A large amount of salt increases the likelihood of diseases of the kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and cardiovascular system.

Various flavoring additives and aromas used in the production of this product are very harmful, and they are also addictive. All manufacturers add them; not a single brand skimps on flavor enhancers and flavorings.

This is a very high-calorie product: per 100 grams - 510 kcal. Therefore, eating chips for overweight people is harmful and not recommended.

Why are chips harmful? Any ingredient in this product is very harmful. They are dangerous individually, but when combined they create real poison.

Chips have the following harmful effects:

With daily consumption of such a snack, after a month, any person can develop heartburn and gastritis.
The salt they contain disrupts metabolism.
A large number of carcinogens can cause the formation of cancerous tumors.
Sodium chloride contributes to the development of cardiovascular diseases, and also impairs bone growth, lowers immunity, and negatively affects the liver and kidneys.
Women are more likely to develop breast cancer. In men, it negatively affects sexual function.
Eating chips causes a disorder of the nervous system, which is expressed in potency and weakness in the arms and legs.

Is there any benefit?

Are chips at least somehow healthy? All doctors and various experts are confident that such a snack does not provide any benefit. This is an empty product that should be thrown out of your diet.

How harmful are chips? What dangers does their regular use pose? This product can cause the development of the following diseases:

allergic reactions;
heart attacks and strokes;
malignant neoplasms;
obesity;
diseases of the cardiovascular system;
swelling;
kidney and liver diseases;
hormonal imbalances;
intoxication of the body;
addiction to additives;
nervous system disorders;
depression, mood swings;
metabolic disease;
elevated cholesterol levels.

Naturally, these are not all the problems that such a snack can cause. Even experts do not know the exact answer to how dangerous this product is for the human body.

Many lovers of such food are looking for which chips are less harmful and how much can be safely consumed per month. However, even one package can harm the entire body.

They are not recommended for use even by absolutely healthy people. But for those who are overweight or have any chronic diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, such a dish is strictly contraindicated. Moreover, you should not eat an expired product.

Currently, industrial chips are the result of the work of chemists, which should be completely discarded or consumed with great caution. But for those who lead a healthy lifestyle and eat right, such food is not suitable.

Harm to children

In particular, chips and children are incompatible. Parents should do everything to ensure that their child eats only natural food and does not allow him to eat harmful chips.

Caring parents will never feed their child with them. They have the following negative effects on children:

Causes obesity.
Contribute to the development of allergies.
Irritate the gastrointestinal tract.
Reduces appetite.
Negatively affects the liver and kidneys.

Video: the whole truth about the dangers of chips.

Hazardous Ingredients

Scientists have proven that the use of trans isomers in food is extremely dangerous; there is no safe standard.

In many developed countries, the presence of trans isomers in the product is required to be indicated on the packaging. The conditionally permissible amount of trans isomers in products is 1%. However, in 100 g of this dish there are approximately 60% of them. Therefore, consuming one package per day, the diet is replenished with 3%-4% trans isomers.

Trans isomers have the following effects:

Reduces immunity.
Doubles your risk of heart disease.
They disrupt metabolism. Causes prostate and breast cancer.
Increase the likelihood of infertility, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and vision loss.

What else are chips made of? Another dangerous ingredient is propenamide (acrylamide), it is a carcinogen and mutagen.

Acrylamide has the following effects:

Destroys the liver and kidneys.
Promotes the formation of oncology.
Affects the nervous system.
Causes gene mutations.

There can be no doubt whether chips are harmful. You should not buy them for your children or for yourself as a snack. It’s worth thinking about what you can replace chips with and eating healthy foods. After all, first of all, you need to think about your health and the health of your children.

When the first chips appeared in America in the fifties of the 19th century, their benefits or harm were not yet discussed. It was simply thinly sliced potatoes and fried in oil and spices, which subsequently gained enormous popularity throughout the world. But time passed, technologies changed. Chips began to be produced from puree, corn flour, to which starch, all kinds of flavorings, additives and preservatives were added.

More and more enterprises began to take the popular product into production. We wanted to make technology cheaper, so everything was used, especially one that could improve the taste of any, even the worst food. In addition, it causes addiction in people who consume it. This is how the composition and structure of everyone’s favorite product called chips changed. The benefits or harm from it have already become the subject of study by entire groups of scientists around the world.

The situation has begun to worsen due to the fact that today, in the production of chips, high-quality and pure oil is replaced by cheap one. In addition, it rarely changes during the preparation of the product (in order to save money). As a result, carcinogens accumulate. This is another disadvantage of eating such a beloved product as chips. Benefit or harm - if you weigh these indicators, then the scales are clearly tilted towards harm. In addition, acrylamides formed in the product when it is processed at high temperatures further indicate that chips are harmful to the body.

But don’t delude yourself into thinking that if you give up this product, you can safely eat the rest. The harm of chips is still half the problem. There are also crackers, no less loved by those who like to use this product with beer, and besides, children crunch on them with frightening consistency. All this should especially alert parents, because the health of children directly depends on what they eat.

The problem is that children love crackers and chips. Benefit or harm is an abstract concept for them. For them, the main criterion is delicious. And manufacturers are trying to add as many additives as possible to these products, which will ensure the desire to eat them again and again. These products are no less harmful for the female body. Scientists believe that those women who consume one pack of crackers a day have twice the risk of developing cancer than those who do not eat them at all.

Scientists began sounding the alarm several years ago, having discovered the dangers of chips and crackers. In their modern version, they contain too much fat, salt, preservatives, leavening agents, flavorings and other “useful” substances. There are no traces of any vitamins or other ingredients needed by the body. Parents should explain to their children how much these products can undermine their health and try to replace all this with healthy foods.

But since a simple ban cannot save children from this chip addiction, one of the Dnipropetrovsk teachers decided to experiment. Tired of proving to her charges that they were ruining their health by consuming these products in immeasurable quantities, she did the following. I just put four cages with rats in the classroom. And she began to feed them in front of all the children with their favorite foods. Some received chips, others crackers, others were given monosodium glutamate, and the animals from the fourth cage were fed only healthy food. They were given grains, fruits and vegetables.

As a result, the children could clearly see what happened to their charges. It seems that after the experiment, many of them gave up both chips and crackers. What he saw stuck in his brain for a long time - cirrhosis of the liver, hair loss, digestion and death of the animals. And although many adults did not share the “barbaric” methods of the Dnepropetrovsk teacher, the fact is clear: the children seriously realized the harmfulness of these products and saw with their own eyes the results of their use.

Needless to say that chips are among the top ten foods that cause obesity and that they simply cause unimaginable harm to any organism. And if we can sometimes pamper ourselves with such food, then chips for children are an undeniable taboo (if only because of the great love for our flowers of life).

You can eat chips only if you turn off all thoughts in your head: if you don’t think about what kind of delicacy they prepared for you from various harmful ingredients, it’s very tasty. But how bad are chips for children? Let's reveal the whole truth, tell you how they are produced and whether there is a useful alternative to them.

Is it just potatoes?

Of course, there are those among us who naively believe in advertising and think that chips are made only from “Russian potatoes” and are seasoned a little with natural spices for taste. Potatoes may be honestly grown in domestic fields, but modern manufacturers add a huge amount of harmful components to them, which are responsible for the rich taste of the product.

And that's not the most surprising thing. Sometimes potatoes are not used at all. Today it is easily replaced with a mixture of gelatin, starch, corn and wheat flour. So, the kneaded dough comes out through a special die, which ensures the pieces are perfectly round in shape. The rest of the work is done by various flavoring additives, which create the feeling that we are eating potatoes with spices.

What they really prepared for us

Even after reading the ingredients, we will understand little about the true harmful content of the chips. The various letters E, of course, do not inspire confidence, but we may not even suspect what kind of animal this is and what effect it has on the child’s body. Let's figure out what the brightly advertised packaging hides inside:

E621 (aka monosodium glutamate) honestly copes with the mission of enhancing taste and aroma. Unfortunately, this is where his positive influence ends. It can cause drowsiness, headache, weakness, and even allergies with asthma. This ingredient has also been scientifically proven to be addictive.
Sodium phosphate, which is also included in the composition, negatively affects bones.
The harm of excess starch and refined carbohydrates increases the amount of glucose and insulin in the blood. Therefore, it is impossible to get enough of such food: after a short period of time, a person becomes hungry again.
There is 1 g of salt per 100 g of product, which is a high value. Please note that a child should not consume more than 2 g per day.
E330 is also called citric acid. Interestingly, this additive is banned in Europe and America for its ability to cause malignant neoplasms.
A large amount of glucose in the composition can cause excess weight and even obesity in a chip lover.
Can you guess how much fat this food contains? Imagine this is one third of the total product. Slices are often fried in low-quality oil, which ensures the production of harmful carcinogens. Curious children can verify this by wrapping one chip in a napkin and pressing a little: you will get a decent stain of grease.
Let's heartily season this list with various dyes, flavor enhancers, flavorings, which are pure chemistry, and we will get a dish so beloved by many.

Composition of chips: video

Harm, and that’s all!

The destructive effect of chips on children’s health is difficult to overestimate: it is simply colossal. Read this scary list carefully, and think a hundred times before reaching for a harmful product in the store:

love for fried potatoes very often leads to deterioration in the functioning of the pancreas, liver and kidneys;
immunity is significantly reduced;
the risk of various cardiovascular diseases increases;
tooth enamel in children is destroyed;
guaranteed bad breath, so strong that any chewing gum is powerless;
allergies are often provoked;
blood pressure increases;
metabolism is disrupted;
unhealthy chips always go hand in hand with obesity;
interfere with the development of the child’s brain;
Trans fats have been proven to promote the formation of cancer cells;
increase the risk of diabetes;
slow down bone growth;

Chips reduce memory and attention in children 3-4 years old and inhibit the development of creative abilities.

The result is an impressive list, after which the question of why chips are harmful becomes closed. We hope that now, when you and your child want chips or crackers, you will categorically refuse harmful foods. We often hear a lot of horror stories about them, but we console ourselves with the fact that the media is always exaggerating, so know: in the case of chips, almost everything is true, and their harm to children and adults is obvious.

I'm your drug

In addition to the harm listed above, we want to add one more weighty argument for why you should not eat chips. Michael Moss, author of Salt, Sugar, Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us, opens our eyes to the ease with which chips can become addictive. He compares the product, beloved by many, to a drug that was cleverly legalized. The combination of harmful components insidiously affects the pleasure center in the human brain, which literally makes you fall in love with this food.

Experiments were conducted on rodents, which once again confirmed that chips can cause addiction and affect the mental state. When eating the product, many experience euphoria and may not even notice how the whole pack disappears. But this state is replaced by apathy and fatigue.

Is it possible to save a child from this harmful addiction? Of course, but this is a long educational process. It’s much easier not to start introducing him to such a dangerous delicacy.

Harm of chips for young children: video

Worthy replacement

Fortunately, you can make a delicious alternative yourself: children's chips will appeal to adults too.

The enormous harm of this product often makes caring mothers think about what they can replace chips with to make it tasty and healthy. Here are a few simple recipes that your child will definitely appreciate:

The first method involves cooking chips in a frying pan with a thick bottom and high walls. Pour vegetable oil generously into the pan, and while it is boiling, peel and cut the potatoes into thin slices and cover with cold water. When the oil comes to a boil, reduce the heat and add the potato wedges. When they turn golden, remove them and place on a paper towel to remove excess fat. Already in a plate, place the slices in one layer, add salt and pepper. Remember that unhealthy fatty and fried foods should be limited in your diet, and especially in the children's menu.
The most delicious chips are made in the oven. Lightly bathe the potato slices in oil and place on a baking sheet covered with parchment or baking paper and greased with oil. At a temperature of 190 degrees, bake the slices in one layer, add salt and seasonings before serving.
The oven will help you prepare a dish not only from potatoes. Many children and adults adore this lavash delicacy. Cut thin pita bread made from unleavened unleavened dough into small pieces, grease them with oil, sprinkle with finely grated cheese, add salt and spices. In an oven preheated to 180-200 degrees, cook the slices until the cheese melts (maximum 5 minutes).
To make chips in the microwave, place thin potato slices at a distance from each other on oiled paper in a plate. Place the plate in the microwave for 3 minutes at maximum power. Salt the finished dish and treat the whole family.

Chips video recipes

Having learned about the dangers of chips and how you can prepare a healthy and tasty analogue at home, what will you do now when your heart desires crackers, chips and other harmful things? It is known that 75% of diseases begin in childhood. We think that this fact is a very good reason to protect your child from unwanted products that are highly addictive.

Can children eat chips?

Children love to eat chips. Let's see how useful they are?

Chips are nothing more than a mixture of carbohydrates and fat with the addition of salt, dyes and substitutes of various tastes.

There are no vitamins or minerals in the chips. There is nothing in them that could provide at least some benefit to your body. In addition to the fact that potatoes lose all their beneficial substances as a result of powerful heat treatment, they also become incredibly harmful due to the oil in which they are fried. The fats contained in chips are extremely dangerous to health, as they have a carcinogenic effect, that is, the ability to cause cancer. After all, chips are fried not in healthy vegetable oil, but in cheap technical fat. Such fats contribute to an increase in cholesterol levels in the blood and increase the risk of serious heart and brain diseases (atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke) even at a young age, although previously only adults suffered from these diseases.

Chips are very salty, and excess salt interferes with normal bone growth, disrupts metabolism, and can cause swelling and heart problems.

Chips are especially harmful for children with a sick stomach or liver; they are also contraindicated for children suffering from various allergic diseases.