Are Twinkies Bad For You?
Also Known As: golden sponge cake with a creamy filling
Short answer
Twinkies are horrible for you. They are loaded with sugar, preservatives, and artificial colors and flavors. Keep them off your shelves - your health will thank you.
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
If a study conducted by Professor Mark Staub is to be trusted, Twinkies could actually help you lose weight, lower LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, and raise HDL cholesterol levels. So, are Twinkies diet food? Hold that thought.
Twinkies are an American favorite. When Hostess filed for bankruptcy, they got pulled off the shelves on November 21, 2012. On July 15, 2013, many of us breathed a collective sigh of relief as grocery shelves were restocked with the treat. However, as far as health is concerned, it may have been better for them to have stayed gone. These treats contain 37 ingredients, none of which sound remotely like food. At the top of the list are the following: enriched wheat flour, corn syrup, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, water, and partially hydrogenated vegetable oil and/or animal shortening (soybean oil, cottonseed oil and/or canola oil, beef fat). In other words, wheat, sugar, sugar, even more sugar, water, and trans fat. As if too much sugar (just one Twinkie contains a startling 16.5 grams of it) wasn't enough of a concern - leading to a higher risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease - high fructose corn syrup contains high amounts of fructose, a substance that if you eat too much of, the liver simply turns into fat. High fructose corn syrup greatly increases the risk of developing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
One Twinkie contains 135 calories. This is actually better than the original Twinkies, which were larger and carried 150 calories, but is still a fairly hefty amount considering a Twinkie can be eaten in 2-3 bites.
Other ingredients found in Twinkies are natural and artificial flavors, calcium sulfate, polysorbate 60, cellulose gum, soy lecithin, sodium caseinate, sodium stearoyl lactylate, and artificial colors yellow #5 and red #40. Yellow 5 is highly suspected of causing hyperactivity in children and red 40 has been shown by lab studies to be carcinogenic. Cellulose gum is poorly absorbed in the body and can lead to flatulence, while polysorbate 60 has been found by studies to be possibly carcinogenic.
Twinkies can also cause a problem for people with allergies to the following: dairy, soy, wheat. As it is made from animal products, it is also not a vegan food. Perhaps the only saving grace is the casein, which some studies link to improvement in people with autism.
Possible short-term side effects
- may cause flatulence
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nausea
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bloating
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blood sugar spike
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hyperactivity in children
Possible long-term side effects
- diabetes
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obesity
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heart disease
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cancer
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damage to vital organs
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immune disorders
Ingredients to be aware of
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