Are Takis Bad For You?

Takis are fried corn tortilla based chips rolled into an attractive shape.  Like many corn chip based products, they are loaded with saturated fats, trans-fats, monosodium glutamate (MSG), sodium, and artificial chemicals, flavors, and colors.  The amount of additives to these products rob them of any nutritional value and make them essentially chemically created “non-foods”.  In most cases, the less ingredients on the label, the better the food is for you and if you cannot pronounce an ingredient on the label, put it back on the shelf!

Takis come in a large variety of both sweet and salty flavors accounting for the generic listing of “seasonings” on their labels.  Their official company website contains no nutritional information for any of their varieties.  Takis are most popular for their spicy varieties.  Some of the spices with the “seasonings” blend can cause stomach irritation, burning in the throat, diarrhea, and indigestion.

The high sodium and MSG content are a big area of concern.  Overindulgence of these chemicals can lead to dehydration, headaches, and bloating.  Research shows that long-term side effects of sodium and MSG include Hypertension, High Cholesterol, Kidney Failure, Diabetes, Heart disease and Osteoporosis.

The artificial colors found in Takis have been found to cause tumors and cancer in lab rats, as well as promote erratic behavior in children.  Takis contain the artificial colors FD&C Yellow 6 lake and FD&C Red 40 lake.  These specific colors are often used because they are visually appealing, however the consequences are great.  Though you can find them in many processed foods, it is important to avoid them as much as possible, especially in children. 

Takis contain some controversial preservatives, that enable them to sit on the gas station or grocery store shelf for a couple of years, prior to making it into your home.  Though there are great advantages to modern day advancements in preserving food, it comes at a cost.  Researchers have found that high doses, Tert-Butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) can cause tumors and DNA damage.  Additionally, long-term exposure to the preservative has carcinogenic effects.  Takis also contain Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), an anti-oxidant preservative.  Though definitive research is still in the works, BHT is correlated with risks of cancer and asthma. BHT is also found to disrupt behavior in children.  Many popular processed food brands have begun to phase out the chemical, due to these concerns.  The Food and Drug (FDA) administration regulates the content of both preservatives in food items.  Thus, if you or your children eat more than one serving, you could be consuming a toxic dose of the chemicals.

There are many unhealthy snacks on the market.  However, Takis are one of the unhealthiest snacks.  If you enjoy the taste and texture of the snack, try making a homemade version of the snack with oven cooked corn tortillas, a little bit of sea salt, and organic dried out spices.  Another option is to make some plain homemade oven cooked corn tortilla chips and a delicious guacamole dip out of fresh organic vegetables!