Potato chips, their harm and health benefits. Potato Chips: Bad Pleasure

16.08.2019 Desserts and Cakes

Chips sold in stores are not a natural product. They contain many chemical additives that are harmful even with a single use. Why are chips harmful to human health, and how are they dangerous?

Appearance story

Once, in an American restaurant, a disgruntled visitor returned coarsely chopped potatoes a couple of times. The chef decided to make a joke on this client, sliced \u200b\u200bthe potatoes too thinly and fried in butter, making it crispy.

The visitor liked this version of the dish, and the head of the institution introduced it to the menu. Subsequently, such an appetizer began to be sold in bags.

Chemical composition

Chips of any manufacturer are dangerous for the body, because in them there is almost nothing natural. Initially, this dish was actually made from potatoes. However, chips are now made from flour or starches. Genetically modified soya starch is often used.

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

Are chips harmful?

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

Various flavors, flavors used in the manufacture of this product are very harmful, and they are also addictive. All manufacturers add them; no brand saves 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 chips are harmful? Any ingredient in this product is very harmful. They are dangerous separately, but when combined, a real poison is obtained.

Chips do the following damage:

  1. With the daily use of such a snack after a month, any person can develop heartburn, gastritis.
  2. The salt contained in them upsets the metabolism.
  3. A large number of carcinogens can cause the formation of cancerous tumors.
  4. Sodium chloride contributes to the development of cardiovascular diseases, and also disrupts bone growth, lowers immunity, negatively affects the liver and kidneys.
  5. Women are more likely to develop breast cancer. In men, it negatively affects sexual function.
  6. The use of 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 useful at least for something? All doctors and various experts are sure that such an appetizer does not give any benefit. This is an empty product that should be discarded from your diet.

How harmful are chips? What danger is their regular use? This product can trigger the development of the following diseases:

  • allergic reactions;
  • heart attacks and strokes;
  • malignant neoplasms;
  • obesity;
  • diseases of the cardiovascular system;
  • swelling
  • diseases of the kidneys, liver;
  • hormonal disruptions;
  • intoxication of the body;
  • addiction to supplements;
  • disorders of the nervous system;
  • depression, mood swings;
  • metabolic disease;
  • high cholesterol.

Naturally, these are not all the problems that such an appetizer may entail. Even experts do not know the exact answer 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 you can safely consume them per month. However, even one package can harm the whole body.

They are not recommended for use even by absolutely healthy people. But for those who are overweight or some kind of chronic disease, gastrointestinal tract disease, such a dish is strictly contraindicated. Moreover, you can’t eat an expired product.

Currently, manufacturing chips are the result of the work of chemists, which should be abandoned altogether or used with great care. And for those who lead a healthy lifestyle and eat right food, such food is not suitable.

Harm for children

Particularly incompatible chips and children. Parents should do everything for their child to eat exclusively natural food and not let it get into harmful chips.

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

  1. They cause obesity.
  2. Promote the development of allergies.
  3. Irritating the gastrointestinal tract.
  4. Reduce appetite.
  5. Negatively affect the liver and kidneys.

Video: The whole truth about the dangers of chips.

Hazardous ingredients

Scientists have proved that the use of trans isomers in food is extremely dangerous, there is no safe norm.

In many developed countries, the presence of transisomers in the composition of the product must 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 about 60% of them. Therefore, consuming one package per day, the diet is replenished with 3% -4% of transisomers.

Transisomers have the following effects:

  • Reduce immunity.
  • Double the risk of heart disease.
  • Disturb the metabolism. Causes prostate and breast cancer.
  • They increase the likelihood of infertility, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and loss of vision.

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

Acrylamide has the following effects:

  1. Destroys the liver, kidneys.
  2. Promotes the formation of oncology.
  3. It affects the nervous system.
  4. Causes gene mutations.

Doubts whether chips are harmful cannot remain. You should not buy them for your children or yourself for a snack. It is worth considering how to replace chips, and eat healthy foods. After all, first of all, you need to think about your health and the health of your children.

One of the most popular products now, especially among young people, is potato chips. They also lead in the ranking of food unsafe for health. Why? Indeed, according to the majority of ordinary people, we are only talking about thinly sliced \u200b\u200band fried potatoes. The very fact that in many families we boiled or baked is a traditional daily dish.


By itself, this vegetable, of course, is not at all harmful. Moreover, in addition to 75% water, it contains a large amount of useful substances: vitamins C, group B and many important trace elements (calcium, sodium, potassium, iron, magnesium, etc.). The process of making chips is quite simple: cut peeled tubers, fry them at high (above 100 degrees) temperature, add flavoring components, pack them up - and now bright bags are waiting for the buyer on the store counter. The thing is that potatoes contain a lot of starch - a substance consisting of many simple sugars, including glucose and fructose, which in the human body play the role of an energy source and determine satiety. With rapid heating, starch forms acrylamide, a known carcinogen and mutagen, whose regular consumption in large quantities causes oncological and other equally serious diseases. Moreover, scientists have found that even a minimal amount of this toxin causes great harm. That is why some European countries have imposed a restriction on the content of acrylamide not only in chips, but also in crackers, nuts, snacks, corn sticks, prepared breakfast cereals, the production of which uses rapid heating or frying.

There are other reasons why chips are on the list of products that are harmful to humans. To give a certain piquant taste, synthetic substances are added to them - dyes, flavor enhancers, flavors, the content of which sometimes exceeds the weight of the potato itself. The regular use of such additives is fraught with the development of allergic reactions and digestive disorders, decreased immunity, destruction of tooth enamel, etc. In addition, the reuse of vegetable oil for new batches of potatoes also negatively affects health, raising blood cholesterol.

Of course, if you once eat chips, it is unlikely to cause serious damage to the body. But with their daily use, you get an excessive amount of calories, salt and potential carcinogens formed during frying. Therefore, it is necessary to understand: there must be a certain constant basis in the diet that corresponds to the principles of a healthy diet. The main postulates of a balanced menu are the variety of products and the presence of vital substances in them. Accordingly, you need to consume a sufficient amount of vegetables and fruits daily, if possible seafood, unrefined vegetable oil, 1.5 - 2 liters of drinking still water. And, on the contrary, limit salt, red meat (beef, pork, lamb) and its “derivatives” in the diet - sausage, ham, sausages, smoked meats ... Plus, go along the path of reducing the daily volume of dishes by quantity and calorie content (that is, not overeat), refuse harmful foods (fast food, fried, very spicy foods) and give preference to those that contain dietary fiber (cereals, wholemeal bread). And in no case do not forget about regular physical activity. Eat right and be healthy!

Vladimir KHRYSCHANOVICH, doctor of medical sciences.

Chips are fragrant snacks that have become a very popular treat among young people. Despite the fact that many of us have heard about their dangers, not everyone can resist and not enjoy a tasty, fragrant and crispy slice. Potato snacks are good both on their own and as an appetizer for beer, although from that the harm of chips to the human body   not less.

For the first time, potato slices were prepared in the nineteenth century by an American chef, J. Crum, to the restaurant of which the railway magnate Vanderbilt came and ordered "french fries" for dinner. The cook served the potatoes in the form of the thinnest and even slightly transparent slices, fried in hot oil. To the surprise of Krum, Vanderbilt ate a new dish he had cooked and did not express any displeasure, and over time, the tycoon began mass production of crisp, packaged portioned in bags. Today, chips have gained universal proportions, every inhabitant of our planet could not hear about them, let alone try. They are sold everywhere: in small kiosks and in large grocery supermarkets. They are used as a quick snack, snack or instead of the main dish. Salads, canapes, breading for chicken, etc. are prepared from them. But why does such a popular product also cause such harm and is unsafe for human health?

Let us briefly consider the features of the production of potato snacks on an industrial scale. At the beginning, they were made from potatoes: tubers were cut into slices and fried in a special way. Therefore, there is an opinion that they cannot do harm, because potatoes are daily present in the diet of most people and no one has died from it yet. After all, what is the harm from fried potatoes? But such an opinion is erroneous!

Just recently, in the late 90s of the last century, chips began to be made from a complex culinary-chemical mixture, which consists of ordinary wheat or corn flour and modified soy starch and which is fried in boiling oil. Therefore, there are so many carcinogens in this product and therefore it is so harmful.

After the potato snacks enter the body, the starch contained in them is converted to glucose and, if they are eaten regularly, then excess glucose will accumulate in the liver, which is guaranteed to lead to.

The taste of such a treat is far from potato. Therefore, manufacturers use a variety of flavorings and additives, chemical dyes, artificial flavors and preservatives that extend the shelf life of such “goodies”.

In addition, the chemical composition of chips includes:

  • monosodium glutamate, which is not famous for its nutritional value for the human body. When it is regularly ingested, it causes persistent addiction to the product and causes cellular mutations;
  • fatty acid transisomers - a dangerous supplement that is harmful regardless of the amount consumed;
  • acrylamide - a toxic substance that causes mutations;
  • glycidamide is a chemical element that causes the growth of cancer cells and destroys DNA.

And how much salt is in them? It has the property of retaining water in the body, disrupts metabolic processes, inhibits normal bone growth and causes disturbances in the functioning of the organs of the cardiovascular system. And this is a direct path to obesity. Therefore, the chips do not meet the requirements of the concept of a healthy diet, but their effect on the body and harm should be evaluated soberly.

Chips harm

Potato snacks and chips are considered the same fast food as hamburgers, cheeseburgers, nuggets and other instant dishes. Their negative effect on the body when consumed is primarily due to the high content of calories and easily digestible carbohydrates in these foods. And in combination with sweet sodas or beer, they especially contribute to weight gain and even obesity.

Please note: For people who are overweight or obese, potato snacks are contraindicated at all - in every 100 g of the product contains more than 30 g of carcinogenic fats, which is harmful to humans.

If a person uses chips and similar products regularly and in large quantities, then he has:

  • there is an excess of cholesterol and the formation of plaques in the vessels, which leads to blockage of blood vessels and the development of cardiovascular diseases;
  • metabolism is reduced;
  • gastrointestinal diseases develop, heartburn, gastritis and intestinal diseases appear;
  • obesity begins;
  • disrupted calcium metabolism in the body and the formation of bone tissue;
  • cancerous tumors may form;
  • immunity is reduced;
  • neoplasms appear on the skin in the form of poorly healing acne and boils;
  • mental activity is deteriorating;
  • reproductive functions of the body are reduced.

It is possible to avoid the occurrence of such dangerous consequences and reduce their harm, but only with a complete refusal to use this product or by minimizing their frequency of use.

Is there any benefit from eating chips?

The only thing that can be cited as an argument about the benefits of this product is that the chips are tasty. If you occasionally indulge yourself with crispy and melting slices of Leys or Pringles in your mouth, this will help relieve stress from the restriction and calm the body a little. But this is only in case of their minimum use - once a month and no more than 100 g! And then obesity will not keep you waiting! In addition, the chips, along with other snacks and crackers, are suitable as a hearty enough snack, can quickly quench hunger, are ready to eat and convenient to transport. Therefore, they are suitable for quick party organization, friendly gatherings or a cozy viewing of an evening movie session.

But remember: a moment of pleasure from eating the product can bring big and serious health problems!

And if you do not have the strength to refuse to use this delicacy, try to cook your own chips from natural potatoes, deep fried. The benefits and harms of home-made potato chips are not commensurate with the harm that industrial products do.

What are harmful chips for children?

Many parents buy chips for their children just like that. Can this be explained by a simple ignorance of how chips affect human health? Or is it an unwillingness to know anything?

Many scientific studies prove that chips are especially dangerous for a growing organism, causing:

  • allergies and asthma;
  • obesity and diabetes;
  • muscle dystrophy;
  • hormonal disorders;
  • destruction of intercellular membranes and the formation of cancerous tumors.

Therefore, in order to wean a child from eating chips and products with a high content of carcinogens, first of all, limit yourself, start cooking tasty and healthy food, and then your children simply will not know what chips are.

The harm of pregnant chips

Pregnant women often experience changes in tastes and desires, and they often have a desire to eat something salty or spicy. But the constant use of salty and spicy foods can lead to swelling, increased pressure and the development of kidney diseases. And chips are even more dangerous for pregnant women than for ordinary healthy people.

Please note: If a mother abuses potato chips and other dangerous products during pregnancy, her unborn child is more likely to be born an allergic person or will have severely weakened immunity.

Everyone knows that all kinds of chips, crackers and other similar goodies are very harmful to health. Moreover, they are not simply not useful, but deadly. But in reality, very few people know why chips are unhealthy.

Why can not you use the popular Kirieshki, Leys, Khrustim, etc.?

Ideally, chips are just fried potatoes cut into thin slices. What is the harm here? Yes, not very useful, but not deadly. In fact, the majority of producers, in pursuit of profit, began to produce their product from potato flour, and not from whole vegetables. Potato flour is an extremely harmful ingredient, it does not carry a single useful substance. By the way, in this regard, Kirieshki and other crackers compare favorably with chips, although they also have their own nuances.

If you think that your favorite product is fried in vegetable or at least palm oil, you are severely mistaken. In order to save, it has long been replaced with technical fat. By using foods cooked in this way, you run the risk of increasing your risk of heart attack and stroke.

Chips, as well as crackers, contain a lot of salt. And salt has the ability to retain water in the body. In addition, an excessive amount of salt consumed increases the risk of diseases of the cardiovascular system, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract.

All kinds of flavors that are widely used in the manufacture of chips are extremely harmful and can be addictive. This is inherently pure chemistry, which does not carry useful substances. If you think that a brand does not add such compounds to your product, then you are mistaken. No manufacturer saves on chemical additives.

And it doesn’t matter what exactly you eat Leys, Kirieshki or Pringles. The harm is almost the same. Such products owe the lion's share of their popularity to all kinds of flavor enhancers and other additives.

In addition, if you are a lover of a meal with Lays chips, keep in mind that in terms of calorie content one pack of such delicacies equals approximately 1/3 of a person’s diet. Kirieshki or other crackers are not far from this indicator. So people who are overweight or prone to overweight, a similar product can not be consumed.

Why chips are harmful and to whom? There is a definite answer to this question: absolutely everyone. Whatever ingredient it takes, it will not carry any benefit in itself, but it will be very harmful. All ingredients are individually dangerous, but when combined together, they turn into real poison.

And what is the use?

All scientists and doctors unanimously argue that all kinds of Lays, Kirieshki, Pringles, etc. do not carry any good in themselves. Absolutely empty products. So-called food waste, which must be removed from the diet.

But why chips are harmful? How much damage can love for similar products bring?

Here is just an indicative list of diseases that can be triggered by such a meal:

  • strokes and heart attacks;
  • oncological diseases;
  • diseases of the cardiovascular system;
  • diseases of the kidneys, liver and other internal organs;
  • all kinds of hormonal disruptions;
  • disorders of the nervous system;
  • allergic reactions;
  • swelling
  • intoxication of the body;
  • metabolic disease;
  • excess weight;
  • mood swings, depression and other psychological problems;
  • addiction to various food additives;
  • excess cholesterol in the body.

Of course, these are far from all the problems that you can invoke on your body. Even experts find it difficult to answer the question: how much harm does the body produce products like Lays chips and Kirieshki crackers?

If you are still wondering: how much can you eat your favorite Pringles chips or Kirieshki crackers per day, or month? Not at all. Even the use of one packet of such products can cause irreparable harm.

Of course, the use of such products even to a healthy person is extremely undesirable. But here people who have chronic diseases or are struggling with excess weight, absolutely can not eat them.

Remember, the main thing is that chips are not fried potato slices. Rusks are not fried bread slices. All these products that are now popular are not the result of the work of cooks. These are the masterpieces of the work of chemists and, like any other chemical, they can be used with the greatest care, and it is better to completely abandon the use. And for people leading a healthy lifestyle and watching their diet, such a dish does not fit into any menu.

Natural chips are chips. But those analogues that are sold in bright packaging, it is difficult to attribute to this category. There are so many different chemical additives in them that even a single use of them can harm the body. Let's consider more specifically what harmful chips are.

Why is it harmful to eat chips?

Consider the ideal option: you managed to find chips on the shelves that are really made from potatoes. But what makes even this, the most optimal option, be harmful? The first thing to mention is the large amount of cheap vegetable fats that are used in frying. In them - and empty, and carcinogens, and toxins. Regular poisoning of the body with these substances can trigger the development of cancer.

For every 100 g of chips, about 500 kcal, which is approximately half the daily diet of a slender woman of average height. In addition, the lion's share of nutritional value falls on fats. Because of this, the regular use of chips quickly leads to the appearance of excess weight and even obesity.

Moreover, flavoring agents are a part of each chips - this, of course, is pure “chemistry”. Moreover, to make them more purchased, manufacturers add sodium glutamate, a flavor enhancer, to their composition. It is he who makes the chips so tasty, and moreover, creates addiction, forcing a person to buy such a product again and again.

How harmful are chips?

Any chips are unhealthy, but the most harmful are those that are made not from potatoes, but from potato flour. This product is much cheaper, but at the same time it has a lot more chemical additives that slag the body. Moreover, in any chips there is too much that holds water in the body, provoking edema and overloading the cardiovascular system. And most importantly - in chips there is not a single useful substance. That is why such a product must be completely excluded from your diet.