Tortillas are a delicious component of many people’s favorite foods. Burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, and wrap sandwiches; all use tortillas as a key ingredient. 

If you are health conscious you may be wondering what this means for your digestive system as well as your waistline.

Knowing whether foods have certain ingredients is important. This is especially true for people who may have food sensitivities.

Some people may restrict their consumption of certain things by choice, while for others it is due to medical necessity. This brings us to the question: do tortillas have yeast, dairy, and carbs?

Yeast is a common ingredient that inflates bread. Since tortillas are meant to be flat, they do not usually contain yeast. This is good news for anyone with a yeast sensitivity or intolerance.

Flour tortillas, the type used in burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, and wraps, typically do not have yeast in them. They are made using white flour, some type of fat such as lard or shortening, water, and salt.

However, there are a few additives to watch for when buying flour tortillas. Obviously, if yeast is listed among the ingredients on a package, that particular brand should be avoided. Sugar should also be avoided because it contributes to the growth of yeast.

You should also watch for hidden ingredients and fillers, such as yeast extract or MSG. Try to find a brand of tortillas that sticks to the simple ingredients: flour, lard, water, salt.

Now that we have addressed the issue of yeast, you may be wondering, do tortillas have dairy? Let’s review the standard ingredients: flour, lard, water, and salt. When tortillas follow the traditional recipe they do not contain dairy.

However, like with yeast, it is important to search the ingredients list to confirm there is no dairy in your tortillas. Sometimes preservatives or fillers may be added, and some of these may contain dairy.

There are some obvious clues, such as seeing milk or cream listed among the ingredients. However, it is usually the more subtle ingredients that catch people off guard. Lactose, casein, and whey are all dairy products that may be used as fillers in some brands.

In most cases, tortillas do not contain dairy. It is always wise to verify this by checking the list of ingredients on the package, particularly if you have a dairy intolerance or allergy.

See Our Article On ​Are Tortillas Vegan?​​​

Carbs have become a buzzword in recent decades. Low carb and no carb diets have come in and out of favor. In addition, awareness of diseases such as Crohn’s and Celiac has risen. As more people are diagnosed, they are looking for ways to eliminate certain types of carbs from their diets.

It is important to note, that there are a wide variety of carbs, and depending on the goal not all of them may need to be restricted. Someone on a low carb diet may restrict all types of carbs, while someone with Crohn’s or Celiac Disease may only restrict certain types.

The question remains; do tortillas really have carbs? The answer is yes. Flour is the primary ingredient in tortillas, and flour does contain carbs. There are alternatives to traditional flour tortillas if you need to restrict your carb intake.

Low carb and gluten free varieties provide a solution for those who still want to enjoy their favorite recipes. You can also try making your own tortillas at home. By substituting white flour for an alternative, such as almond flour, you can reduce the number of carbs and create your own healthy creations.

Tortillas can provide a healthy, delicious solution to mealtime. They are versatile and can be used in a wide variety of popular foods.

In addition, they also are typically yeast and dairy free as long as they are prepared in a traditional manner. It is always wise to double check and make sure that a particular brand doesn’t have any added ingredients you may be trying to avoid though.

While tortillas do have carbs, there are several solutions available. You can buy low carb or gluten free varieties at most grocery stores.

As an alternative, you can also try making your own tortillas. This gives you the power to control the ingredients that go into them. You can experiment with different types of alternative flours to find the perfect solution for your family.

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.