Everyone enjoys the popular cheesy Cheetos snacks. Once you get hooked on the first pack, you’d always want more. But why are Flamin’ Hot Cheetos so addictive?
The burning sensation from the peppers makes Flamin’ Hot Cheetos addictive. This sensation gets you excited and makes you want to eat more.
Are there other reasons why you keep craving Flamin’ Hot Cheetos? yes, there are. Find out other reasons why Flamin’ Hot Cheetos are so addictive here.
What are Flamin’ Hot Cheetos snacks?
Flamin’ Hot Cheetos are crunchy, cheese-filled, hot-flavored corn puff snacks.
The ingredients in Flamin’ Hot Cheetos include cheddar cheese, corn meal, garlic powder, flaming hot seasoning, salt, sugar, MSG, buttermilk, citric acid, and natural flavor.
The puffs also contain sunflower oil, sodium diacetate onion powder, whey, whey protein concentrate, vegetable oil, artificial color, and yeast extract.
Additionally, milk components are present. A bag of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos comprises 170 calories as well as calcium, carbohydrates, lipids, and cholesterol (saturated and trans fat).
They also contain an adequate quantity of iron, fiber, potassium, salt, protein, carbohydrates, and vitamin D.
Why is Flamin’ Hot Cheetos puffs so addictive?
Flamin’ Hot Cheetos are addictive because they contain ingredients with addictive qualities. Medical professionals have likened it to minor opiate addiction.
The burning sensation from the peppers in Flamin’ Hot Cheetos makes your body release natural opioids (endorphins). This sensation excites you (at least until the opiate wears off), and then you crave more of it.
Also, the way Flamin’ Hot Cheetos melts on your tongue is another reason why you can’t just eat a few.
According to the “vanishing caloric density” phenomenon, Cheetos’ fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth texture deceives the brain into believing that the food is low in calories.
This implies that even if it doesn’t seem like a substantial meal, your brain doesn’t prevent you from consuming it.
In addition, there’s not one significant or unique flavor of Cheetos. Although there are lots of labeled flavors, you need to keep eating them to figure it out. That is another reason this snack is so addictive.
Furthermore, MSG, a specific chemical found in Cheetos, is known to increase the addictiveness of snack foods. This additive is a sodium-stabilized pure version of naturally occurring glutamate.
Glutamate, an amino acid present in all protein-containing foods, including cheese, meat, and mushrooms, gives food the savory flavor known as umami or the “fifth sense.”
Interestingly, MSG doesn’t have any flavor; instead, it stimulates the glutamate receptors in your taste buds, which enhances the flavor of food. Therefore, without it, Cheetos might not be as appealing as you might assume.
Where is Flamin’ Hot Cheetos most eaten?
With 128 million Consumer Reach Points (CRP), Mexico has the highest popularity for the brand Cheetos in 2019. Brazil came in second place with 86 million CRP.
Meanwhile, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos has surpassed all other snacks in popularity in the United States, according to sales statistics from goPuff.
Why is Flamin’ Hot Cheetos banned in some places?
Unrelated to the red stools and gastritis, several school districts in New Mexico, California, and Illinois took the decision years ago to ban the snacks from their campuses.
This is due to their lack of nutritional value and the possibility that they might trigger a brain response resembling illicit substance addiction.
Also, many schools claim that Flamin’ Hot Cheetos are unhealthy, germy, and messy.
Is Flamin’ Hot Cheetos bad for you?
Yes, they are. According to Medical Daily, pediatricians assert that Flamin’ Hot Cheetos bring several kids to the ER every year.
In addition, this snack may cause severe gastrointestinal pain, gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, ulcers, and erosions.
Therefore, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos are unhealthy. They are loaded with artificial and highly processed ingredients and have no nutritional value. However, the real risk, as with other snack items, comes from overindulging.
Containing high-fat, processed foods like Flamin’ Hot Cheetos will increase the risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and some cancers.
They also contribute to a less-than-healthy lifestyle. While Flamin’ Hot Cheetos may have the bogus cheese flavor you’re craving, they are an unhealthy and artificial snack.
FAQs
Are Cheetos chips?
No, they are not chips. Cheetos snacks are cheesy corn puffs. Before being further cooked to make them crunchy, the extruder puffs them up into their desired forms.
Is Hot Cheetos Vegan?
No, it is not. Cheetos is neither vegan nor vegetarian because they are produced using animal enzymes. Also, they include dairy, a product of cows.
Can you freeze Cheetos?
Yes, you can. Frozen Flamin’ Hot Cheetos are a great delight. One moment you’re enjoying an icy cold snack, and the next, you’re feeling the burn of the crisps’ heat.
Any variety of Cheetos, including Flamin’ Hot, Cheetos Puffs, and Cheesy Cheetos, can be kept in the freezer.
Conclusion
Why is Flamin’ Hot Cheetos puffs so addictive? They are tasty corn puffs with a hot pepper flavor mixed with cheese. You can’t help but pop more into your mouth.
However, excessive consumption of this snack is very harmful to your health. Therefore, if you must eat it, you can make it a rare treat rather than a daily part of your diet.
Thanks for reading.
You can read more about snacks and treats right here on Millenora.
