Are Hot Cheetos Bad For You?
Also Known As: FLAMIN' HOT Cheese Flavored Snacks
Short answer
Hot Cheetos contain little nutritional value and are not good for health. In extreme cases, this spicy snack has even sent children to the hospital.
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
Flamin’ Hot Cheetos (or also called Hot Cheetos) are a poor diet choice because of their high levels of salt, fat, various artificial colors and flavors and other potentially harmful ingredients.
This, of course, is not too much of a surprise considering it is junk food. However, Hot Cheetos have caught national attention because of the extreme side effects that many children have experienced from consuming too much of their favorite Cheetos snack.
Why are these children getting sick? The Hot Cheetos recipe is made with a concoction of artificial spice and monosodium glutamate (MSG) to create its unique hot flavoring. When Hot Cheetos are eaten excessively, this spice can cause an upset stomach, bloating, painful burning sensations, acid reflux, hiccups, and vomiting.
Because of the raised alarm and increase in emergency room visits, many school districts have decided to ban selling Hot Cheetos on their campus.
Doctors have recognized that there is a price to pay for those that enjoy eating spicy processed snacks like Hot Cheetos. Consumers are damaging their stomach lining and setting themselves up for ulcerations, erosions and creating a risk of peptic ulcer disease.
Besides the sickly side effects that were mentioned, parents have also shown concern about their child’s noted red stool thinking that it’s blood (from an internal bleeding). This is actually caused by the bright red and orange dye coated generously on the outside of each Cheeto. Although not a major concern for the child, it certainly weighs on the mental health of parents.
So you’d think it would be easy enough to just warn everybody to avoid the snack so they don’t get sick. Well, what makes it worse is that these Hot Cheetos are addictive, literally.
All of the ingredients mixed into this snack are there for a reason. Studies have shown that Hot Cheetos and similar spicy snacks will trigger a response in the brain that could be labeled as addiction. So even though kids are getting sick, they can’t help but shovel down more bags.
Hot Cheetos are mostly made out of corn (most likely GMO) and sweetened with high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) which can increase the risk of various ailments including obesity, metabolic syndrome, and liver damage. Because they are also high in salt, eating them as a regular snack could potentially cause dehydration and high blood pressure.
Possible short-term side effects
- acid reflux
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bloating
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hiccups
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burning sensation
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vomiting
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red stool
Possible long-term side effects
- ulcerations
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erosions
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peptic ulcer disease
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weight gain
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dehydration
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high blood pressure
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cancer
Ingredients to be aware of
Healthier alternatives
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