Are Doritos Bad for You? What You Should Know - Chef Julia (2024)

Are Doritos Bad for You? What You Should Know - Chef Julia (1)

October 4, 2022

Let’s face it, sometimes we don’t have enough time to prepare a healthy snack. So, it’s easier to buy whatever we can find to satiate our hunger. And even though eating Doritos once in a while won’t hurt you, we’ll explain a few reasons why you should always consider other options.

Doritos are a salt bomb

Yes, Doritos are a salt bomb, and we are not talking about those that dissolve in our baths. What we mean is that this snack has a super high content of sodium per serving size. One serving of Nacho Cheese Doritos (11 chips) can have up to 210 mg of sodium!

And that’s just per the suggested serving size. Imagine if you eat the whole bag, as a lot of us have… Sodium or salt intake is directly linked to hypertension, a serious health condition that can cause heart disease and other cardiovascular illnesses.

Doritos are made with modified corn

While a simple corn tortilla sprinkled with salt won’t hurt us that bad. Doritos are not only fried and salty, they are made with lab-created corn, better known as GMOs.

GMOs, or genetically modified organisms, are plants or animals whose genetic code has been modified by humans using transgenic technology. The goal is to create a combination of plant or animal variation that wouldn’t occur in a natural setting or through traditional cross-breeding methods.

That means Doritos don’t contain real corn with their protein, which is why these chips don’t satisfy hunger and only provide empty calories.

Doritos are designed to be addictive

Maybe we pick one chip, then another, then another, until we finish the bag and end up with orange fingers as guilty proof of the crime. And we’ll probably blame ourselves and our self-control.

But the truth is, Doritos are made with addictive ingredients such as sugar, salt, and a chemical flavor enhancer, better known as Monosodium glutamate (MSG). Doritos also contain acids, which cause a release of saliva and trigger the urge to eat.

They also have a “non-specific aroma quality”, a reason why you aren’t able to pick out any one specific flavor, meaning you can eat more without getting sensory burnout.

Moreover, this snack’s formula has changed through the years to ensure the “Doritos experience”, which is just licking the orange dust at the bottom of the bag and our fingers. The problem is that the powder is just the seasoning concentrated. The worst part of the snack.

Want more healthy recipes? Check out Health Chefs for nutritious, delicious and can be easily made at home.

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Are Doritos Bad for You? What You Should Know - Chef Julia (2024)

FAQs

Are Doritos Bad for You? What You Should Know - Chef Julia? ›

Yes, Doritos are a salt bomb, and we are not talking about those that dissolve in our baths. What we mean is that this snack has a super high content of sodium per serving size. One serving of Nacho Cheese Doritos (11 chips) can have up to 210 mg of sodium!

Are Doritos unhealthy for you? ›

In addition, Doritos are high in calories, fat, and sodium, which can contribute to weight gain and increase the risk of health problems such as high blood pressure and heart disease if consumed in excess. It is important to consume them in moderation as part of a balanced diet and lifestyle.

Is it OK to eat Doritos in moderation? ›

If you're eating a good balanced diet, and having a single serving size bag of Doritos, it's fine. Just as long as you're getting the nutrients you need from other foods, and are somewhat active, they're aren't going to hurt you. I suggest Baked Doritos for a better option.

What chemical in Doritos makes you keep eating them? ›

Doritos contain a large amount of. MSG (monosodium glutamate) which hijacks your. taste buds and keeps you in an addictive cycle.

Is it okay to eat a bag of Doritos? ›

What are the health risks of eating a whole bag of Doritos? Eating a whole bag of Doritos can lead to consuming excessive amounts of salt, unhealthy fats, and calories, which can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity.

Are Doritos as bad as potato chips? ›

If you ignore per 30g / per 25g column (Doritos come in a bigger portion and encourage you to eat more, but that's not a fair comparison), Doritos have 4% less fat and 16% fewer calories. They're about equivalent on salt, but the weird one is sugar. It's so unbalanced that it can't really be portrayed as a percentage.

Are Doritos healthier than potato chips? ›

Both chips have little to offer when it comes to protein and fiber—so that's a draw. But fats make things interesting: While tortilla chips have less saturated fat than potato chips, they also have almost 10 times the trans fat.

Why avoid Doritos? ›

Eating a lot of spicy nacho flavored Dorito chips can increase the risk of weight gain, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol due to their high calorie, sodium, and unhealthy fat content. Additionally, consuming spicy foods in excess may cause digestive discomfort such as heartburn or indigestion.

What happens if you eat a whole bag of Doritos? ›

Here are some potential consequences: Weight gain: Doritos are high in calories, unhealthy fats, and carbohydrates. Consuming one bag daily, depending on the size and flavor, could lead to an excessive calorie intake, leading to weight gain over time.

What is the controversy with Doritos? ›

The company that makes Doritos cut ties with a transgender influencer after reports she posted about violence and paedophilia.

Can we eat Doritos in Islam? ›

Doritos is not halal is the US and Canada because one of the ingredients listed as enzymes is derived from beef. Muslim countries have halal versions because it's mandatory for companies to sell products with halal ingredients in it whereas the same does not apply in other countries like US and Canada.

Can I eat Doritos with braces? ›

Hard and crunchies: tortilla chips or hard shell tortilla, Cheetos, Fritos, Doritos, Kettle Chips, Cheez-Its, pretzels, popcorn, crust of the bread or pizza, crispy french fries, well-toasted bread, fried chicken and sandwiches/hamburgers should be avoided during braces.

Is it OK to eat a whole bag of chips once in a while? ›

Hardly. Downing that full bag will result in increased blood levels of the chips' food components -- approximately 90 grams of fat, 160 grams of carbohydrate and 1,500 mg of sodium. All of that will be waiting in the queue for absorption, and it is complemented by few, if any, healthful assets.

Is there a healthy chip? ›

Sun Chips are sometimes given a health halo because they're made with whole grains as opposed to potatoes. Starches digest faster than grains, so Sun Chips, which are made with corn, wheat, rice flour and oat flour, may not give you as much of a blood sugar spike.

Why are Doritos so addictive? ›

These extra ingredients include synthetic additives like MSG to make us want more. This chemical he tells us, tricks our brains into thinking they are tasty, when in reality, they are not. They also contain two more synthetic flavor enhancers; disodium guanylate and disodium inosinate.

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