Why You Should Never Eat Pringles

There’s no denying that Pringles are delicious. With their distinct taste, unique texture, and wealth of tangy flavors to choose from, it’s no surprise that they’re one of the most loved potato chips in the world.

NEED TO KNOW

A brief history of Pringles

Pringles was invented by chemist Fredric Baur in 1956, and subsequently improved upon by Alexander Liepa, to make it market-ready a few years later.

Procter and Gamble, the original owners of the company, commissioned Fredric to design a new type of potato chip to address the issues customers had complained about with other brands – namely broken, moldy and greasy chips.

The design, hyperbolic paraboloid, was unique for chips up until then, and by 1968, these newfangled snacks hit the American market.

Unfortunately, those flavorful chips we love so much have their downsides.

As with almost all potato chips, not only are Pringles addictive, they’re bad for you if you consume too many of them.

The rest of this article will explore the reasons why you shouldn’t eat Pringles.

They’re highly addictive

We’re all familiar with the famous Pringles slogan, “Once you pop, you can’t stop!” Never were truer words spoken.

Potato chips in general are addictive in nature (they’re made to be that way), but Pringles especially can lead you to gobble down a whole 200g tin without stopping for air.

It is due in part to their soft, delicate texture, that makes them almost melt in your mouth. This sensation isn’t common with regular chips, which are usually harsher and require more chewing.

Then there are the strong flavors. Plenty to choose from, something for everyone, each tub bursting with flavor. Put frankly, they’re irresistible, and that makes them dangerous.

Too much sodium/salt

Potato chips usually contain high levels of sodium (if they didn’t they wouldn’t taste so good), but Pringles uses a staggering amount of sodium, more than many other brands.

For reference, a 200g tin of Pringles contains double the amount of your recommended daily salt intake.

What happens when you eat too much sodium?

Excess sodium in your body can cause fluid retention, high blood pressure and a variety of other health problems.

It may also increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

They cut the inside of your mouth

A high consumption of salt, besides causing a host of other health conditions, will cut the inside of your mouth, namely the roof.

This is common when you’ve eaten too many potato chips; but with Pringles, this happens a lot quicker, due to the amount of salt they contain.

They also cut your tongue, making it painful to eat anything else until it heals.

They cause constipation

Pringles are high in starch, which means they are not only bad for your teeth but also induce constipation.

Eating too many Pringles can make it difficult to do a number two, and will have you feeling bloated all day.

They contain MSG

One of the ingredients used in Pringles, to enhance their taste, is MSG.

What is MSG?

MSG, monosodium glutamate, is a flavor enhancer.

It is made from glutamic acid, which although it occurs naturally in some food such as tomatoes, it is man-made and added to snacks.

Why is MSG bad for you?

According to Mayo Clinic, MSG can cause the following side effects:

headaches
sweating
numbness in the face
heart palpitations
nausea

It also heightens the food cravings – so if you are trying to lose weight or eat less of a certain type of food, MSG will have you craving that very thing!

Which brings us full circle back to the addictiveness of Pringles. They are literally manufactured to get you craving them.

MSG has been banned in several US cities, and is completely banned in children’s food in most countries.

Is it ok to eat Pringles once in a while?

Moderation is key in any diet, as you well know. So, yes, it’s generally okay to eat Pringles every now and then, as long as they’re part of a balanced diet.

Be mindful of portion sizes when consuming them (hint: 1 portion of Pringles is probably a lot less than you think it is – around 14 chips).