Your typical after-school snack might be a bag of Takis from your local Duane Reade or CVS. When you open the bag, an indescribable scent of sour and spicy flavors floods your mouth. You could almost feel the tingles of seasoning in your nose. Taking a bite of that crunchy snack, and the flavor makes you want to grab some more. The spice then hits a few seconds later. It makes your mouth burn, but it’s addictive. Later you know it, one chip becomes two, and two becomes three.  

Addictive in a Bad Way

CBS News states that Takis, for some people, “can trigger feel-good brain chemicals.” Raja, a consumer who was interviewed, then says “ ‘They can be addictive. Your taste buds’ pleasure centers react to them very positively,’ ” One could eat one piece and crave more instantly. People with or without great spice tolerance tend to continue eating them in unhealthy amounts. Takis can cause “agonizing” stomach pain when too much is consumed. 

NorthJersy reports an example, “The 17-year-old girl from Tennessee who had her gallbladder removed ate four bags of such snacks per week, according to WREG-TV.” She later on got gastritis, which is “an irritation, inflammation or erosion of the lining of the stomach, according to WebMD.” There are many more cases of people overly consuming spicy snacks like Takis, which led to detrimental and dangerous results.

Why are they unhealthy?

There are many unhealthy snacks in the market, however, Takis is one of them. These chips are highly processed and refined. They are rich in calories, fat, carbs, and sodium, but low in nutrients. Although sodium is important for several aspects of our health, consuming too much can cause negative side effects. High sodium can increase your blood pressure, according to Healthline. 

Dr. Cary Canvender states, a gastroenterologist at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, “There’s a lot of factors that go into having a gallbladder removed. But eating the chips probably contributed. The number of children with stomach problems due to the chips is staggering. We probably see around 100 kids a month, easily.” 

The Opposition 

Despite the cons of eating Takis, some may argue that they are just like any other food you can eat. Takis can indeed cause some unwanted pain but so can other foods! Additionally, a normal, regulated human– in any mind, wouldn’t consume an excessive amount of Takis that could be lethal. Overall, Takis are okay to be consumed as long as you don’t devour too much. 

In conclusion, there’s no doubt that Takis can be an amazing snack when one craves spicy chips. The unique taste that it offers can often be addictive. However, they can only be enjoyable when taken in the right amounts. Excessive consumption can be extremely unhealthy for the body. 

Sources:

1.) https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/they-can-be-addictive-doctors-warn-eating-too-many-hot-snack-chips-can-irritate-stomach-lining/

2.) https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/health/2018/07/24/hot-cheetos-takis-can-put-children-health-risk-nj-doctor-warns/831251002/

3.) https://wreg.com/news/memphis-mother-says-hot-chips-to-blame-for-daughters-gallbladder-removal/