Are you a fan of spicy, crunchy snacks like Baked hot Cheetos? If so, you might be wondering if they’re healthy for you. After all, they’re popular and delicious.
Baked hot Cheetos are baked versions of the hot Cheetos, made with baked cornmeal instead of fried. The baking process makes them generally lower in calories and fat compared to the fried version.
Low fat and calories make people choose Baked hot Cheetos, thinking they might be good for their health. But are they?
Short answer: Baked hot Cheetos are not healthy due to their high content of empty calories and harmful ingredients like maltodextrin, artificial flavors, and artificial colors.
Let’s get into the detail about Baked Hot Cheetos.
Also read: Are Popchips Healthy? 5 Reasons They’re Better Than Other Chips
Nutrition facts about Baked hot Cheetos
Here are the nutrition facts for a single serving(28g) of Baked hot Cheetos:
- Calories: 130
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Sugar: less than 1g
- Total fat: 5g
- Saturated fat: 1g
- Trans fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Protein: 2g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sodium: 230mg
- Potassium: 130mg
Ingredients in Baked hot Cheetos
The ingredients that are found in Baked hot Cheetos include:
Enriched cornmeal
Enriched cornmeal is the main ingredient of Baked hot Cheetos. It is a type of cornmeal that has been fortified with nutrients that were lost during the corn milling process.
Vegetable oils
Baked hot Cheetos uses various vegetable oil such as Corn, Canola, or Sunflower.
These oils help to give the Cheetos Fa crispy texture and prevent them from sticking together.
Salt
Salt is one of the main ingredients in Baked hot Cheetos that provides a distinct flavor.
Monosodium glutamate(MSG)
It is a common food additive used to enhance the flavor of Baked hot Cheetos.
Yeast extracts
It is a seasoning made from the by-products of the brewing industry. Yeast extract is high in Umami and is used as a flavor enhancer.
Hydrolyzed corn protein
It is a type of protein that has already been broken down into smaller peptides using hydrolysis. It is commonly used as a flavor enhancer to help improve the texture and nutritional value of the food product.
Sodium diacetate
It is a mixture of sodium acetate and acetic acid, often used to control molds and bacteria growth in food products.
Maltodextrin
It is a tasteless white powder derived from cornstarch used as filler.
Artificial colors
Baked hot Cheetos is full of artificial colors such as Red 40 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, Yellow 6, and Yellow 5.
Flavor enhancers
In addition to MSG, Baked hot Cheetos uses two other common flavor enhancers, namely Disodium Inosinate(631) and Disodium Guanylate (627)
Other ingredients include Skim Milk, Sugar, Cheddar Cheese, Citric acid, Lactic Acid, Garlic powder, Buttermilk, Natural flavors, Whey, Whey Protein Concentrate,
4 Reasons Baked hot Cheetos are not healthy
1. Source of empty calories
Baked hot Cheetos are a major source of empty calories, as they provide approximately 95% of their calories from fat and processed carbs.
Empty calories are calories that come from foods that are low in nutrients.
As per studies, consuming empty calories increases the risk of chronic diseases such as inflammation, weight gain, obesity, and diabetes.
So, if you’re wondering whether Baked hot Cheetos will add any nutritional value to your diet, the answer is no.
2. Contain risky flavor enhancers
Baked hot Cheetos use a variety of flavor enhancers to provide a unique and delicious taste.
These flavor enhancers include MSG or monosodium glutamate, Disodium Inosinate(631), Disodium Guanylate (627), and Sodium diacetate.
While the food authorities approve these flavor enhancers, some studies show they can pose health risks.
For example, MSG is one of the most common and controversial flavor enhancers used in food. While it is deemed safe, studies have shown that overeating can result in various health issues, such as headaches, obesity, hepatic damage, and reproductive malfunctions[1].
On the other hand, flavors like Disodium Inosinate and Disodium Guanylate have been associated with Behavioral problems in children, Gastrointestinal issues, and allergic reactions when consumed in large doses.
Moreover, If you are sensitive to flavor enhancers, it is best to avoid Baked hot Cheetos.
3. Use of maltodextrin
Another controversial ingredient that is found in Baked hot Cheetos is Maltodextrin.
It is a white powder made from starch that is often used as a thickener or filler in processed foods.
Maltodextrin has a high glycemic index(105-185). It can spike blood sugar levels making it a bad food ingredient for people with diabetes.
In addition, research has found that maltodextrin has the potential to alter the gut microbiota, killing the good bacteria in your gut.
Moreover, consuming too much of it can result in weight gain and digestive issues such as bloating and diarrhea.
4. Loaded with artificial colors
Baked hot Cheetos might look appealing, but they are actually full of artificial colors that can be harmful to your health.
These artificial colors include Red 40 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, Yellow 6, and Yellow 5.
As per studies, Red 40 or Allura Red AC has been associated with allergies, neurobehavioral effects, and worsening behavior in children with ADHD[2]. It has also been linked to cancer in some animal studies.
On the other hand, artificial colors like yellow 5 and 6 have been found to induce problems like hives, asthma, and skin rashes. They are also found to be contaminated with benzidine and other carcinogens[3].
Are Baked hot Cheetos good for weight loss?
Baked hot Cheetos might have 50% less fat than regular Cheetos, but they are still not a good option for weight loss due to their high content of empty calories, maltodextrin, artificial ingredients (such as flavors and colors), and low fiber content (less than 1g per serving).
If you want to lose weight, it’s better to include unprocessed foods in your diet.
Are baked Cheetos better than regular Cheetos?
Baked Cheetos are healthier than regular Cheetos as they have 23% less calories, 54% less fat, and 8% less sodium. However, both variants are processed and packed with the same ingredients.
Here is a quick comparison of the nutritional value of baked Cheetos and regular Cheetos.
| Nutrients | Regular Cheetos | Baked Cheetos |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 170 | 130 |
| Carbohydrates | 15g | 20g |
| Fats | 11g | 5g |
| Protein | 1g | 2g |
| Fiber | <1g | 1g |
| Sodium | 250mg | 230mg |
Final words
Even though baked hot Cheetos have fewer calories, fat, and sodium than traditional fried Cheetos, they are still not healthy. This is because they are a high source of empty calories, contain maltodextrin, and are loaded with risky flavors and artificial colors.
In addition, they are not a good option for your weight loss diet.
If you want to include snacks in your diet, choose options with high nutritional value and least artificial ingredients.
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Here are a few other posts that might be helpful for you:
- Are Doritos Healthy? 7 Reasons You Should Never Eat Them
- The Truth About Popcorners: Are They Really Healthy?
- Are Sunchips Healthy? The Truth About This Popular Snack
- The Truth About Lays: Is It Good For Your Health?
- Are Coco Pops Healthy? The Truth About This Breakfast Cereal
FAQs
Baked hot Cheetos are not vegan due to their dairy content including cheese and milk ingredients which come from animals.
Baked hot Cheetos do contain artificial colors that have been linked to cancer, but there is no strong evidence to suggest that eating them causes cancer.
Yes, Baked hot Cheetos are a processed food as they are made from processed ingredients like maltodextrin, flavors and artificial colors.
Baked hot Cheetos are not recommended to eat on daily basis as they lack in essential nutrients and are source of risky ingredients such as maltodextrin, flavors and artificial colors.
Baked Hot Cheetos may have 5g of fat per serving, which is lower than other similar snacks, but they cannot be considered low-fat.
A food must have 30% or fewer of its calories come from fat in order to be considered low-fat.
