A simple walk across a high school campus will show multiple students eating “chips” from that purple bag (sometimes green). On average 80% of all high school students enjoy Takis or Hot Cheetos. However, each time students eat these chips they are doing both their bodies and minds a disservice. Many do not know or are unaware of the crippling side effects that a few of the chemicals used on these popular chips can cause to a teenage body. 

Barcel, the maker of the popular snack chip, claims all ingredients are simple and safe. On a closer look, however, we notice that there are up to four ingredients in question that can cause mass problems. One is Sodium, which can have an effect on high blood pressure, causing your blood to not flow properly throughout your body. The second is MSG, which also will have a major effect on the blood flow throughout the body. The third disturbing ingredient is TBHQ known as Tert-butylhydroquinone. This ingredient is responsible for causing tumors. The last ingredient to be concerned with is an ingredient that lowers oxygen levels in your body and in your brain and is also known to cause cancer. It is called BHT or Butylated hydroxytoluene. 

Due to the lack of oxygen and blood flow from these four main ingredients, scientists began looking at outcomes of chronic Taki consumption (more than 4 times per week). The findings were astounding and shocking to long-time scientists at the University of California-Davis. While students will suffer from common side effects such as:

• severe stomach aches
• dehydration
• headache
• fatigue
• chest pain
• nausea/vomiting
• bloating
• confusion
• erratic behavior (children)
• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol
• kidney failure

They also are suffering from a new side effect. As scientists from UC Davis put it, “Due to the lack of oxygen in the blood and brain students’ brain cells are dying at alarming rates. We thought maybe it was part of the vaping epidemic, but this is different and can be traced back to a combination of TBHQ, BHT, and high sodium frequently taken together. ”