by Matt Weik, BS, CSCS, CPT, CSN
Strolling down the chip and pretzel aisle on the grocery retailer is like making an attempt to resolve a calculus drawback at school. What’s wholesome? What’s not? Which is healthier for you, and that are deceptive? When confronted with numerous tortilla chips on the grocery retailer, you might ponder whether blue corn tortilla chips are a more healthy alternative than common ones.
In any case, that’s what they declare on the packaging of blue corn chips, proper?
Upon analyzing the diet details on the packaging, you’ll uncover that they’re fairly related. Each sorts sometimes comprise round 2 grams of protein and 1-2 grams of fiber per 1-ounce serving. This serving dimension additionally offers roughly 15-20 grams of carbohydrates and 6-9 grams of fats, primarily derived from the oil used for frying.
Whereas corn chips could not provide a major quantity of nutritional vitamins, they comprise average quantities of minerals, similar to iron. Nevertheless, the important thing issue that units blue corn chips aside when it comes to potential well being advantages lies of their pure blue coloration, versus being artificially coloured.
On this article, we’re going to take a deeper dive into blue corn chips and perceive if they’re a greater and more healthy possibility than their white counterparts.
Disclaimer: This text is for informational functions solely and isn’t meant to deal with or diagnose any situation. It is suggested that you simply converse together with your physician earlier than making modifications to your present diet plan.
Blue Corn Chips vs. White Corn Chips
After we are trying into the dietary aspect of issues, blue corn chips are barely greater in energy, carbs, and fats than white corn chips. Nevertheless, they’re additionally greater in dietary fiber and decrease in sodium. Concerning micronutrients, blue corn chips have extra magnesium, zinc, iron, phosphorus, and vitamin B6 than white corn chips.
In case you are questioning which one to purchase subsequent time, each tortilla chips provide some dietary advantages. Nonetheless, blue corn chips are a little bit higher for you as they’re greater in dietary fiber and antioxidants. Nevertheless, it’s important to do not forget that all sorts of tortilla chips ought to be consumed sparsely.
The Advantages of Blue Corn Chips
Blue corn chips possess anthocyanins, that are pure pigments current in crops accountable for imparting blue, crimson, or purple colours to meals. Anthocyanins belong to the category of polyphenol flavonoids and function antioxidants, providing potential well being advantages.
Moreover, apart from its interesting coloration, blue corn chips comprise a better protein content material and a decrease glycemic index compared to yellow corn. Though a lot of the analysis involving blue corn extract has been performed in preclinical or in vitro settings, the well being benefits related to anthocyanins are well-established for human well-being.
Beneath are three well being advantages related to blue corn chips:
1. Blue corn chips and most cancers cells
In a number of in vitro research, each blue corn chips and common tortilla extracts have demonstrated the flexibility to inhibit the expansion of most cancers cells. Anthocyanins derived from blue corn chips have been discovered to scale back the viability of most cancers cells and induce apoptosis (cell loss of life) in prostate and breast most cancers cells.
Remarkably, this impact was noticed even in triple-negative breast most cancers cells, identified for his or her accelerated progress and unfold in comparison with different sorts of breast most cancers cells. The researchers recommend that the anthocyanins current in blue corn might probably function supplementary brokers in breast and prostate most cancers therapies, as they exhibit an influence on cell cycle and viability.
It ought to be famous that blue corn chips are NOT a most cancers therapy. The research merely reveals an attention-grabbing discovering. It’s best to nonetheless converse together with your physician about your choices.
2. Mind well being advantages
In a preclinical investigation, rats that consumed blue corn chips alongside their common eating regimen demonstrated enhanced long-term and short-term reminiscence in comparison with rats fed with white corn chips and the management teams.
3. Metabolic well being
In a rat mannequin research designed to copy metabolic syndrome noticed in people, the administration of blue corn extract resulted in notable enhancements in numerous metabolic parameters. These enhancements included raised ranges of HDL (“good”) ldl cholesterol and lowered systolic blood strain, serum triglycerides, whole ldl cholesterol, and adipose tissue (fats tissue).
Analyzing the Environmental Penalties of Blue Corn Chips
The manufacturing of blue corn chips can exert a notable environmental influence, contingent upon the cultivation practices employed. Using sustainable farming methods, similar to crop rotation and canopy crops, can mitigate soil erosion and maintain soil fertility.
Moreover, choosing natural cultivation of blue corn can scale back reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which may in any other case hurt the atmosphere.
Concerning the carbon footprint, blue corn chips usually exhibit a barely decrease carbon footprint in comparison with white corn chips. This disparity stems from the truth that blue corn necessitates much less power for cultivation and processing when in comparison with white corn.
