Fats In Your Snack

Potato chips are the most common snacks that we eat during our free time or watching TV. Though they may have real nutritional value, the calories, fats and salt accumulate with each bite.

In a glance, 1 serving of potato chips has about 15 chips, 154 calories, 10g fats, 10% of recommended daily intake of sodium. Think about it, when was the last time you stop at your 15th potato chips?

Fats are essential as they help to absorb vitamins, make hormones, protecting organs and nerves, etc. Our body needs it in a form of healthy fats. Fats can be divided into 3 categories, namely saturated, unsaturated and trans fats.

Unsaturated fats

Mostly found in plant-based foods. Linked to decrease cholesterol in our body.

Saturated fats

Mostly found in animal sources. Linked to increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Trans fats

Mostly found in artificially processed food. Linked to increase cholesterol in our body.

Trans fats are commonly found up to 1/3 of potato chips’ weight. These fats provide non-essential nutrients, causing ourselves to at higher risk of obesity, heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, liver failure, infertility (in women) and depression.

However, you can still snack on your favourite potato chips by controlling the intake. Keep the total fat to 20-35% of the total daily calories. If 1 serving of potato chips consist of 10g of fats, that is 90 calories, almost 4-5% of our daily diet of 1800 calories (woman) and 2200 calories (male).