Science shows the Ugly Side Effects of Eating too many Potato Chips.

Overeating this salty snack can cause some serious damage. 

It’s no coincidence that the marketing tag line of a favourite chip brands is ‘Betcha can’t eat just one.’ Any balanced diet can include some moderate snacking, but eating too much of any given junk food snack can be harmful. While you may believe you can get away with eating a few chips, it is very easy to undo any positive nutritional or exercise momentum you have achieved by eating too much of this salty favourite. 

If you enjoy eating chips on the regular, you can expect to see some frightening bodily changes occur, especially if you consume a lot of these salty, fat-filled snacks every day. Scientists have discovered seven extremely harmful side effects of eating a lot of potato chips on a regular basis, thanks to a plethora of recent studies and research. Chips are a snacking favourite, and there is a good chance that there is a bag in your pantry right now. They are easy to overeat, they fit into a category of snacks that are often ‘comfort’ snacks, and people tend to eat them socially at parties and at get togethers.

The health concerns around over eating chips should be enough to cause you to think twice before demolishing a large bag of your favorite chips. 

Eating too many chips can cause your blood pressure to rise. 

No one wants to have high blood pressure, especially since it can lead to a variety of health problems such as dementia or heart problems. Because of the high levels of sodium found in each serving, people who eat a lot of chips are more likely to develop hypertension, also known as high blood pressure. According to the Cleveland Clinic and Harvard Medical School, the salt in these snacks significantly destabilizes your sodium levels when compared to other foods, putting you in danger right away. 

Eating too many chips could cause cancer. 

I bet that you didn’t expect this news. Truth is, we didn’t either. You may not have realised that your favourite bag of chips can raise your risk of cancer. According to the American Cancer Association, acrylamide, a chemical found in processed foods, has carcinogenic properties and can cause a variety of cancers. 

This is bad news for chip fans because potato chips contain high levels of this chemical and provide a very direct route for many people to consume acrylamide. You might think that potato chips can't possibly pose the same risks as a high-risk carcinogen like nicotine, but don't be fooled! This carcinogen is found in both cigarette smoke and potato chips, posing an immediate and obvious threat to your health. 

Over eating chips may increase your chances of developing heart disease. 

You've probably heard that processed fatty foods are bad for your heart, and chips don't hold back when it comes to wreaking havoc on your health. If you enjoy deep digging into a bag of chips, you should be prepared to face the possibility of heart disease as a result of the carcinogenic acrylamides. 

Acrylamides, according to Science Daily, can increase the risk of heart disease. A 2009 medical study published in the National Library of Medicine confirmed the negative effects of acrylamide consumption on heart health, making chips a scientifically proven dangerous snack if you want to avoid any heart complications. 

Eating too many chips can increase your chances of having a stroke. 

When it comes to chips, you have to be concerned about more than just acrylamides. According to Griffin Health, chips are high in cholesterol, and if you have a family history of strokes, you should avoid these snacks the next time you get a craving. 

According to the Mayo Clinic, the fat deposits left by high-cholesterol foods cause a blockage in your arteries, which can lead directly to a stroke. When hunger strikes, pause for a moment to consider the consequences of those chips—and perhaps opt for one of the delicious, easy to prep snacks or deserts in our Meal Plan instead. These snacks and deserts are easy to prep, taste amazing and will support fat loss and your fitness efforts. Some people in our community have found success switching from snacking on salty chips to whipping up a quick smoothie. On the surface, they are completely different snacking options, but maybe that’s why reaching for a smoothie works when chip cravings strike. 

Chips can lead to the possibility of infertility. 

Think again if you thought you only had to be concerned about the fat or cholesterol in your bag of chips! Trans fats can cause just as much harm, and chips, according to the National University of Singapore, are one of the most obvious ways we consume these dangerous fats on a daily basis. 

Scientists are still studying the long-term effects of trans fats, but their recent findings should make you put down that bag of chips right away. Trans fats, according to Harvard Medical School, may increase the risk of infertility in women. 

Chips have the potential to cause significant weight gain. 

It's no surprise that chips can cause significant weight gain, given how many empty calories they contain and how easy they are to overeat. 

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine linked snack foods like chips to extreme weight shifts, while Deakin University discovered that the salt content of chips makes them irresistible to our taste buds, causing us to eat far more than we should. When you combine the extra fat content with salt, you get a perfect storm of poor nutrition that is guaranteed to derail anyone's weight loss plans. 

Chips have been linked to clinical depression. 

The negative effects of eating potato chips extend beyond your physical health. Consuming bags of chips jeopardises your mental health due to the addition of high amounts of trans fats. 

According to a 2016 study published in the US National Library of Medicine, increased trans fat consumption increases the risk of depression. If you thought grabbing an extra snack would lift your spirits and improve your mental health, think again. Depression is no joke. If you are struggling with depression, and have a tendency to emotionally eat, chips are likely on the menu. Put down the chips and reach for a healthier option the next time you feel the urge to snack.

The bottom line. 

This article is about generating some awareness around one of the most popular snack food products. Chips are something that most of us enjoy in moderation, but they are also extremely easy to overeat - they have been purposefully designed in a food lab to be as addictive as possible, using salt and savoury artificial flavours to overwhelm our tastebuds. Many people struggle with chips on a daily basis, and we have no doubt that chips are contributing to the obesity epidemic and the resulting health care burden. 

If you can take chips or leave them, great. If you are someone that struggles with chips, you need to replace that snack with something else, preferably a snack or desert that tastes amazing, is easy to prep, and is more interesting than a celery stick. As mentioned, some people have found success with smoothies, but a solid Meal Plan will have snack and desert options that won’t kill you, and that actually support your weight loss and fitness goals. Try replacing chips with those options. If you are a casual chip grazer, having the occasional serving isn’t going to likely lead to any negative consequences. Keep aware of your chip intake, and don’t over do it. 

Best,

Freddy.

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