[Formerly Helpful_C]

I believe that this is the most pertinent place to ask, but I may be incorrect. Are ready salted crisps actually bad for you?

Despite having a wonderfully healthy diet, I infrequently enjoy a 150g bag of ready salted crisps. When I say 'infrequently', I mean once every few months. However, I would appreciate clarification on whether they're "junk" or not. These crisps contain three ingredients: potato, sunflower oil and sea salt. Now, last time I checked, potatoes were a good source of complex carbohydrates - so how can they be viewed as "junk"? Additionally, you actually gain some nutritional value - omega-6, manganese, potassium and a whole host of vitamins.

I think it's clear which side I fall on but, as I said, I would appreciate your input.

Thank you.

[Bettypratchit]

Well I have always known them to be classed as junk food, I think this is due to it being a snack food and most snack foods are considered to be unhealthy. This is mainly down to the levels of salt, saturated fat etc which is in them. But seeing as you consume them so infrequently it shouldn't do much damage to your body, I would be more worried if I have 2 bags of crisps per day! If you are not sure about eating them then the best thing to do is to stop eating them altogether. If you look on the nutritional info on the back of the packet you can see if it's bad for you against the 'guideline daily amount' that you should have.

[almasy]

2 words - salt, oil.

taters are fine (demonised waaaay too much and i hate the NHS for saying they don't 'count as your 5 a day') if they weren't healthy then they wouldn't be one of the main foods given to people recovering from starvation...
salt is a toxin.
oil is junk.

though at once every few months i really don't think there's much to worry about unless you eat other junk all the time as well.

[xoxAngel_Kxox]

Everything is okay in moderation. I eat crisps once every couple of weeks now, whereas I used to eat at least 4 packs a day! No exaggeration. I feel much better without them. Maybe try getting some unsalted ones and see if you like them?

[Shawshank]

No. Sunflower oil is horrendous.

[Dennerers]

If you are as you say only eating them once a month at the least, there is nothing to worry about, however watch the sat fat in them if the are fried. which most crisps are.

[Formerly Helpful_C]

(Original post by almasy)
2 words - salt, oil.

taters are fine (demonised waaaay too much and i hate the NHS for saying they don't 'count as your 5 a day') if they weren't healthy then they wouldn't be one of the main foods given to people recovering from starvation...
salt is a toxin.
oil is junk.

though at once every few months i really don't think there's much to worry about unless you eat other junk all the time as well.

No, I don't have any other junk food. I know table salt is a toxin, but does the same apply to sea salt?

[Formerly Helpful_C]

(Original post by xoxAngel_Kxox)
Everything is okay in moderation. I eat crisps once every couple of weeks now, whereas I used to eat at least 4 packs a day! No exaggeration. I feel much better without them. Maybe try getting some unsalted ones and see if you like them?

Where could I get them? I don't really want to be buying 6 small bags of 'salt n shake' or whatever they're called.

Thanks.

[fuze-mo25]

why dont you just eat baked crisps? they taste pretty good too!

[almasy]

(Original post by Formerly Helpful_C)
No, I don't have any other junk food. I know table salt is a toxin, but does the same apply to sea salt?

It's the same salt, cyanide doesn't become any less toxic just because it's come out of some water, why would salt?
better yet, whats the single reason not drink sea water if you're stranded at sea? (hint, it ends in "kill you" and begins with "it will")

[DudeRugs]

(Original post by almasy)
It's the same salt, cyanide doesn't become any less toxic just because it's come out of some water, why would salt?
better yet, whats the single reason not drink sea water if you're stranded at sea? (hint, it ends in "kill you" and begins with "it will")

Salt is a mineral, not a toxin. You don't drink salt water when stranded at sea because dehydration.

[almasy]

(Original post by DudeRugs)
Salt is a mineral, not a toxin. You don't drink salt water when stranded at sea because dehydration.

Sodium is a mineral , not salt, no one ever died of a salt deficiency, plenty of people have died from salt toxicity, just ask the chinese, it's a favourite method of suicide over there, and of course carthage thrived after the romans salted the earth didn't it?
how about you go and eat 100grams of salt and attempt to come back and prove me wrong? (have fun with that)

[kka25]

Salted == stopped me from eating it :/

[DudeRugs]

(Original post by almasy)
Sodium is a mineral, not salt, no one ever died of a salt deficiency, plenty of people have died from salt toxicity, just ask the chinese, it's a favourite method of suicide over there, and of course carthage thrived after the romans salted the earth didn't it?
how about you go and eat 100grams of salt and attempt to come back and prove me wrong? (have fun with that)

Anything is toxic in high enough amounts (people have died from drinking water too), it doesn't mean its a toxin.

Salt is a mineral. Just because you say it aint so, it doesn't mean it aint so.

[Chiko 1001]

(Original post by almasy)
Sodium is a mineral you idiot, not salt, no one ever died of a salt deficiency, plenty of people have died from salt toxicity, just ask the chinese, it's a favourite method of suicide over there, and of course carthage thrived after the romans salted the earth didn't it?
how about you go and eat 100grams of salt and attempt to come back and prove me wrong? (have fun with that)

I reckon you could die of salt deficiency. Sodium is responsible for membrane potentials and also controls the distribution of water within the body. It's actually a very powerful thing if you have renal impairment and can't excrete your excess, or if you excrete too much by taking diuretics.

[tania<3]

Salt isn't a toxin... Yes, too much salt in your diet is bad for you, but like another poster wrote above, anything in excess is toxic. If salt was toxic then the Indian food my family makes would have killed me long ago

OP I think ready salted crisps are regarded bad for you if you have them too often, but from the sound of it you don't, so I wouldn't worry

[cool pilot dude]

(Original post by Formerly Helpful_C)
I believe that this is the most pertinent place to ask, but I may be incorrect. Are ready salted crisps actually bad for you?

Despite having a wonderfully healthy diet, I infrequently enjoy a 150g bag of ready salted crisps. When I say 'infrequently', I mean once every few months. However, I would appreciate clarification on whether they're "junk" or not. These crisps contain three ingredients: potato, sunflower oil and sea salt. Now, last time I checked, potatoes were a good source of complex carbohydrates - so how can they be viewed as "junk"? Additionally, you actually gain some nutritional value - omega-6, manganese, potassium and a whole host of vitamins.

I think it's clear which side I fall on but, as I said, I would appreciate your input.

Thank you.

Th eonly crisps I eat are: Sensations,Kettle chips and Pringles.

I also like the salt and shake crisps by walkers. However, I do not like to add the salt in and just eat them plain

[Roxas]

(Original post by almasy)
Sodium is a mineral you idiot, not salt, no one ever died of a salt deficiency, plenty of people have died from salt toxicity, just ask the chinese, it's a favourite method of suicide over there, and of course carthage thrived after the romans salted the earth didn't it?
how about you go and eat 100grams of salt and attempt to come back and prove me wrong? (have fun with that)

http://medical-dictionary.thefreedic...alt+deficiency

How about you go and drink as much water as you possibly can in the shortest amount of time.

The water potential of your intestines becomes closer to 0 when you rapidly drink a lot of water, this causes salt and other electrolytes to move out of your cells from the high to low concentration gradient. This can cause a condition called hyponatremia which can kill you as many metabolic functions become prevented, nerve conduction stops working etc.

Salt is important. Water is important. Both can kill you.

[almasy]

(Original post by Roxas)

Salt is important

Someone clearly doesn't know the difference between sodium and salt...

[Formerly Helpful_C]

(Original post by almasy)
It's the same salt, cyanide doesn't become any less toxic just because it's come out of some water, why would salt?
better yet, whats the single reason not drink sea water if you're stranded at sea? (hint, it ends in "kill you" and begins with "it will")

Common misconception: salt doesn't dehydrate you, it's the removal of it that does. Your body can't digest salt so tries to remove it, causing you to waste the water that you do have.