This Is Why You Always Finish That Bag of Chips
Bolognese or paprika, ridged or smooth, it makes no difference. You always finish the bag of chips. Sound familiar? This is why.
‘Almost all chips, except plain chips, contain the added flavor enhancer glutamate, E621 through E625. This substance ensures that your blood sugar level doesn’t rise but actually drops, causing your brain to urge you to eat more. In short, one bowl of chips actually makes you hungrier, so that bag (equivalent to as many as 3 to 5 potatoes) is quickly emptied,’ says nutritionist Laura Meerstadt in Telegraaf.
Emotions
Fine, then the problem is solved by choosing plain chips instead of paprika-flavored chips, you might think. But unfortunately, that’s not the case. According to health coach Merel van der Berg, the psychological effect also plays a role: associating food with good times, for example, but also associating it with comfort when you’re sad. ‘When you’re sitting on the couch with your boyfriend enjoying yourselves, you associate chips with having a good time and often keep eating unconsciously. But when you’re sad, you may also reach for chips to make yourself feel better when things aren’t going your way. Eating makes you feel good at that moment, and you want to hold on to that feeling, so you quickly eat too much.’
Looking for a “healthier” alternative? Try these nori or vegetable chips.
Also read:
