Are Takis Good For Weight Loss?
No, Takis aren’t good for weight loss because they’re high in calories and sodium, which don’t align with your weight loss objectives.
Just 12 pieces of Takis pack around 150 calories and 420 mg of sodium. For weight loss, it’s better to opt for foods that are low in calories and made with healthy ingredients.
Takis don’t fit these criteria and are also loaded with processed and artificial ingredients to boost flavor, which isn’t beneficial for your overall health.
If you’re curious about why Takis isn’t a good choice, stay tuned as I break down the reasons in this article.
Nutritional Value Of Takis
As per the Takis official nutritional label, when you eat 12 pieces of Takis Fuego you get the following nutrients:
Serving Size: 28 g/ 12 pieces
Calories: 150
Carbohydrates: 17 g
Fat: 8 g
Protein: 2 g
Fiber: 1 g
Sugars: 1 g
Sodium: 420 mg
Also Read: Why Low-Fat Diets Dont Work For Weight Loss?
Downsides Of Eating Takis For Weight Loss
There are many downsides to eating Takis, let’s go over each of them.
It’s High In Calories
Being on a diet where you eat fewer calories than you need is key to losing weight. If you’re 70 kg and want to drop to 60 kg, you need to eat less than what your body needs to stay at 70 kg.
So, if your body needs 2000 calories to stay at 70 kg, you should try eating 1500 calories instead.
There’s a bit more to it, like considering how active you are, your age, and whether you’re male or female.
But the main idea of eating fewer calories doesn’t change. To do this, you need to cut back on foods that are high in calories and choose foods that are low in calories but full of essential nutrients.
Unfortunately, Takis don’t fit this bill because they’re low in vital nutrients but high in calories.
If you eat 12 Takis, you’re getting 140 calories just from that, and those calories come from processed corn and refined oils. Where your calories come from matters too.
For instance, 100 calories from a pastry isn’t the same as 100 calories from a chicken breast; they affect your body differently. So eating takis can make it difficult for you to manage your daily calorie intake.
It is a Highly Processed Snack
Takis are really processed. I mean, they’re tortilla chips, so of course, they’re processed, but the ingredients they have aren’t good for losing weight or for your overall health. Let’s look at what’s in them.
You can see, that Takis aren’t great for anyone trying to lose weight or who needs to watch what they eat because of health reasons.
So, who can actually eat them? Well, they might be okay for people who are already at a healthy weight and are very active. But even those people should only have them once in a while.
The reason why these kinds of junk food are bad is because they can interfere with your body’s natural signals of hunger and satiety, and stimulate your appetite and cravings for more.
These snacks are made to taste good, be affordable, and be easy to get. But, they’re full of refined carbs, artificial ingredients, fats, and salt, making them really tempting and hard to stop eating.
Eating these can also make your blood sugar and insulin levels go up and down quickly. Research suggests this can cause inflammation, make your body less good at using insulin, and lead to storing more fat hence weight gain.
If you are interested in how takis are made, here’s a simplified overview of how takis are typically made:
Corn is cooked, ground, and shaped into thin tortillas.
The tortillas are cut into small pieces and rolled into tubes.
The tubes are fried in oil until crispy and golden.
The tubes are coated with various seasonings and flavors, such as chili, lime, cheese, guacamole, etc.
The tubes are packaged and distributed to various markets.
It Can Cause Gastric Issues
One surprising thing I discovered about Takis is that their intense seasoning, which creates that signature spiciness, might not be so great for your stomach.
Yes, depending on how much you consume, like if you were to eat an entire bag, you might experience some stomach discomfort.
In fact, several users on Reddit have mentioned that despite finding Takis irresistible, they only stop eating them when they start feeling stomach pains.
For example, one user shared their experience with gastric pain after consuming a small amount of Takis.
Another user mentioned that although they used to enjoy Takis without any issues, they eventually began to experience gastric discomfort as well.
The issue with Takis is that their high level of spicy seasoning could potentially harm your stomach. Of course, this varies by individual; some might handle it better than others.
However, it’s worth considering that such discomfort could negatively affect a healthy digestive system, potentially impacting your appetite and overall digestive health.
This, in turn, could interfere with your weight loss goals.
It May Lead To Overeating
Since it’s made with a generous amount of tasty seasoning, fat, and crunchy texture, it can be hard to stop eating.
As I’ve mentioned before, processed foods can interfere with the body’s natural hunger signals.
Because these snacks are perfectly crafted with just the right mix of salt, fat, sugar, and seasoning, moderating your intake can be challenging.
This is especially true if you’re a lover of eating spicy foods (like me), and you find yourself hungry and craving a snack. Something like Takis can satisfy both needs: A) it’s spicy, and B) it addresses your hunger.
And if you happen to be watching TV at the time, well, we all know how hard it is to pull away from that situation.
The issue is that all of this can make it tough to stick to a proper weight loss diet, where managing your daily calorie intake is crucial, leading to exceeding your daily calorie limit.
Does Not Offer Any Real Nutritional Value
The main ingredients in takis are this
Corn masa (a type of dough made from corn)
Vegetable oil (usually palm, canola, soybean oil)
Seasoning blends, which can contain a mix of spices such as chili, lime, salt, cheese, and other flavors
Because of its heavy processing, it doesn’t offer any nutritional value except for calories, which mainly come from the corn and oil used in its production.
When you’re trying to lose weight, the goal isn’t just to cut down on calories by eating any random snacks, but to nourish your body with foods that provide real nutritional benefits.
I want you to think of weight loss as a branch of a tree, where the tree represents your overall health. Without good health, there can be no sustainable weight loss, muscle gain, or mental well-being.
That’s why, in the journey of weight loss, it’s important to focus on consuming foods that deliver genuine nutritional value, including a healthy balance of carbs, protein, fat, and fiber. (More on fiber next.)
They Are Not Filling
You might wonder why Takis aren’t filling. The answer is simple: fiber. Takis lack fiber because they’re primarily made from corn and vegetable oil and are processed, leaving them without any real fiber content.
Fiber plays a crucial role in making a meal or snack satisfying. It adds bulk to what you eat. As fiber-rich foods move through your intestines, they absorb water and expand, which helps you feel full.
This is why low-fiber snacks, especially processed food like takis or hot Cheetos, don’t keep you full.
You could eat an entire bag of Takis and find yourself hungry soon after because there’s nothing in them to properly signal your brain to release satiety hormones as you are eating them.
The process of chewing food, which then fills your stomach and stretches the stomach walls, triggers satiety hormones.
This entire sequence is important for making you feel full, something that isn’t achievable with a processed snack like Takis.
Also Read: Are Protein Bars Good For Weight Loss?
Tips For Eating Takis on a Weight Loss Diet
If you still want to eat Takis while trying to lose weight, here are some things you need to follow:
Pre-portion Your Snacks
It’s easy to eat a lot more than you planned if you eat straight from the bag because you might not notice how much you’re having.
Instead, use a bowl or a small container to hold just one serving of Takis. That way, you’re more likely to only eat the amount you decided is okay for your weight loss plan.
Balance Your Diet
Takis are tasty, but they don’t have many vitamins or minerals. So, if you eat Takis, make sure the other foods you eat during the day are very healthy.
Fill up on vegetables, fruits, foods high in protein like chicken or beans, and grains that haven’t been processed too much, like brown rice or whole wheat bread.
These foods have the nutrients that Takis don’t, so they help keep your body healthy while you’re trying to lose weight.
Stay Hydrated
Spicy snacks like Takis can make you really thirsty.
Plus, when you’re on a diet, it’s important to drink lots of water because sometimes people think they’re hungry when they’re actually just thirsty.
Drinking water can stop you from eating when you don’t need to.
It’s especially important to drink more when you’re eating salty snacks like Takis because they can make your body hold onto water, which can make you feel bloated.
Account for Calories
When you’re trying to lose weight, it’s essential to know how many calories you’re eating every day because losing weight mostly comes down to burning more calories than you consume.
Takis, like any other food, contain calories that can add up quickly. If you’re using a food diary or an app to track your calories, don’t forget to add the Takis you eat.
Since snacking can sometimes be an afterthought, it’s easy to overlook these calories, but they can make a big difference in your weight loss progress.
By keeping track of every calorie, you can make sure you stay within your daily limit.
Watch Your Sodium
Sodium is a mineral that, in large amounts, can cause your body to hold onto water, which might increase your weight temporarily and make you feel puffy or bloated.
Foods like Takis are usually high in sodium, which is something to watch out for.
Many health organizations suggest that adults should eat less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day and even less for better heart health.
So, when you eat Takis, check the sodium content on the nutrition label and consider how it fits into your total sodium intake for the day.
If you eat high-sodium snacks, try to eat less sodium in your other meals to balance things out.
Be Mindful of Meal Timing
The time of day when you eat can affect how your body digests food and can also influence your sleep quality.
Eating Takis late in the evening or before bed can lead to discomfort because your body slows down at night, including your digestion.
Spicy and acidic foods like Takis might also cause heartburn or indigestion when lying down.
If you want to include Takis in your diet, try to have them earlier when you’re more active, and your body can handle them better.
This way, you’re less likely to experience discomfort, and you have more time to burn off the calories before you sleep.
Also Read: Best Time To Drink Green Tea For Weight Loss
Alternatives to Takis For Weight Loss
Alternatives to Takis for someone on a weight loss journey is about finding snacks that satisfy the craving for something crunchy and flavorful but are more nutrient-dense and lower in calories and sodium. Here are some alternatives:
Organic Whole Wheat Blue Corn Chips
These are a healthier option because they are made from whole grains, which have more nutrients and fiber than the refined grains typically used in Takis.
Fiber helps you feel full, which can prevent overeating. Look for chips that have a short ingredient list and low sodium content.
Homemade Corn Chips and Fresh Vegetable Dip
Making your own corn chips allows you to control the ingredients and the amount of oil and salt used. Baking them instead of frying can reduce calorie intake.
Pairing with a fresh vegetable dip, like salsa or a yogurt-based dip, adds flavor and nutritional value without too many extra calories.
Homemade Flavored Corn Chip Snacks
By flavoring your own homemade baked corn chips with spices and a light spray of oil, you can create a tasty snack that’s lower in fat and calories than Takis.
Spices like chili powder, cumin, and lime zest can mimic the flavors of Takis without the need for added sugars and flavor enhancers.
Roasted Chickpeas
Chickpeas are high in protein and fiber, both of which are beneficial for weight loss.
When roasted, they become crunchy and can be seasoned with a variety of spices to meet your flavor cravings.
They’re a great snack that provides nutrients while also being satisfying.
Spicy Nuts
Nuts like almonds, cashews, or walnuts can be seasoned with spicy flavors and are a good source of healthy fats, protein, and fiber.
They should be eaten in moderation due to their high-calorie density, but they’re a satisfying snack that contributes to satiety and nutrient intake.
Also Read: Are Saltine Crackers Good For Weight Loss?
Conclusion
So all in all takis are not the healthiest snack and are not good for weight nor offer any health benefits.
I am sorry if you clicked on this article hoping to find a favorable answer to takis. However, as I’ve mentioned, they’re high in calories, made with unhealthy ingredients, offer no nutritional value, and aren’t filling.
All these factors make them unsuitable for supporting your weight loss efforts. Instead, consider trying some of the Takis alternatives I’ve suggested earlier and see if any appeal to you.
When you’re on a weight loss journey, it often means making sacrifices—whether that’s giving up Takis, ice cream, or cake.
But remember, it’s usually just a temporary measure. Once you’ve reached your goal weight and your body can handle processed foods without hindering your progress, you can reintroduce them into your balanced diet and enjoy them occasionally.
Also Read: Is Bubble Tea Good For Weight Loss?
FAQ
Are Takis good for diet?
No, Takis are not considered good for a diet due to their high calorie, fat, and sodium content.
How many calories is a bag of Takis?
A standard 4 oz bag of Takis contains around 560 calories.
Can I eat Takis after a workout?
It’s best to choose a snack with protein and good carbs after a workout for recovery, so Takis are not the ideal choice.
Is a small bag of Takis healthy?
A small bag of Takis is still high in sodium and lacks nutritional benefits, so it’s not considered healthy.