Are Corn & Flour Tortillas Healthy? Why Should You Eat Tortilla Chips

Don’t you just love tortilla? And tortilla chips too! You can pair tortillas with just about whatever you fancy. You hear “tortilla” and you can almost imagine that delicious burst of flavor when you bite into a scrumptious burrito.

And those tortilla chips are to-die-for especially when dipped in spicy tomato salsa. If you love tortilla chips you’d wish you could keep eating them, but then you start thinking, are tortilla chips healthy?

Well, just like any other type of food, moderation is important. Anything you eat beyond its suggested serving size poses a potential risk to your health.

What exactly do you get from tortillas and tortilla chips, aside from extreme gastronomic satisfaction, that is?

Serving Size: Two 6-inch tortillas

A serving size of 2 tortillas that are 6 inches across has about 110 calories. It contains 3g of protein, 1.5g fat and 23g carbohydrates.

The calorie content is 12.3% of the daily value based on a 2000-calorie diet. Take note that every person’s body is different and each one’s dietary needs vary.

          ● Dietary Fiber - tortillas are a source of dietary fiber. This assists our digestive system by improving bowel movement. Dietary fiber also helps to lessen the risk of diabetes and heart disease. For better fiber consumption, have whole grain tortillas instead of plain white ones.

          ● Iron - Improves blood circulation, promotes a healthy immune system and maximizes Vitamin A absorption. A 12-inch tortilla or two 6-inch tortillas have 3.9g of iron which is 49% of the required daily value for males and 22% for females.

          ● Niacin (Vitamin B3), Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) - B vitamins support the body’s metabolism. Proper niacin and pantothenic acid intake improves the body’s ability to process fats as well as carbohydrates and proteins, converting them into fuel. They also improve your body’s ability to cope with stress.

          ● Sodium - this mineral is the key to a healthy brain and muscles. It helps with fluid retention in the body.

Serving size: 10-15 chips (1 oz)

The proper serving size of tortilla chips is roughly 10 to 15 chips or about 1 ounce. No, an entire bag is not one serving, sorry.

One serving of tortilla chips has roughly 146 calories, 7g of fat, 19g carbohydrates and 2g protein.

          ● Thiamin (Vitamin B1), Pyrixodine (Vitamin B6), Niacin (Vitamin B3) & Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5 - B vitamins help to improve and maintain the adrenal function, keep the nervous system in good running order and improves metabolism. They also help reduce fatigue.

          ● Sodium - helps maintain water balance in the body

          ● Calcium - helps build strong bones and teeth

          ● Iron - required in the production of healthy red blood cells

          ● Copper and Manganese - copper acts as an antioxidant as well as helps keep the nervous system and immune system healthy. Manganese works with other minerals to help improve bone health and metabolism.

          ● Phosphorus - helps maintain strong bones and teeth. It also helps keep the kidney healthy through detoxification.

These health benefits are completely useless if you do not follow the proper serving portions. Moderate intake is the key to maintaining a healthy relationship with tortillas and tortilla chips.

If you’re wondering, “Are tortillas fattening?” The answer is yes, if you eat too much of it. The recommended serving size is 10 to 15 chips only. Don’t go eating a large bag of it.

It takes about 45 minutes of walking to burn the calories in tortilla and tortilla chips. So, if you exercise regularly or at least walk that much in a week, you can easily burn off those calories. If you eat one serving per week, that is.

Needless to say, tortillas and tortilla chips are not for everyday consumption. If you want to stay healthy and be able to eat more tortillas and tortilla chips in the future, eat proper portions now.

You can go ahead and binge on entire bags of tortilla chips now and wolf down 2 to 3 tacos. But don’t go crying once you’re told by your doctor to refrain from eating them forever in the future.

Whereas if you exercise some self-control and eat only as recommended, you’d be sure to keep enjoying these delicacies for many more years to come. When it comes to your food, moderation is the key to self-preservation. 

Don't you satisfy with this piece? We've another article completely dedicated for the comparison of corn and flour tortilla! Check that out.