Contents
In this article you will learn, among others:
- Are Sunbites healthy?
- What is the composition of Sunbites?
- How much calories do sunbites have?
- Are Sunbites harmful?
- Are there harmful substances in Sunbites?
- Can You Eat Sunbites On Your Diet?
Are Sunbites healthy?
Today we will look at Sunbites crackers, which the manufacturer encourages on the site
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After such a description, it’s hard to resist 🙂 Let’s check what it looks like in terms of diet.
What is the composition of Sunbites?
Sunbites crackers certainly have many advantages that distinguish them from other popular brands. Among other things, instead of the popular and much worse in terms of health – palm oil (which contains over 50% of saturated fatty acids) **, the producer used rapeseed oil. It is an oil that is a source of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids, with a favorable ratio of omega-6 to omega-3. We should pay special attention to this, because improper proportions in the diet lead to e.g. inflammation.
Multi-grain Sunbites – 33% healthy
Sunbites crackers is a product that mainly consists of flour (33% wholegrain). It is thanks to the share of this flour that crackers are rich in B vitamins, and thus are useful for our nervous system. Unfortunately, the manufacturer used not only whole grain flour, but also refined wheat and corn flour, which are quite poor in terms of the content of minerals and vitamins. The manufacturer stated on the packaging that the product is a source of fiber – in my opinion it is low – it is only 5% of the product.
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We are glad that wheat germ was added to the crackers – but due to their low content – they are not a source of protein in this product. They were entered at the end of the list of ingredients – and as you probably know – the content of individual ingredients is given in descending order (the more ingredient, the earlier it will be listed).
How much calories do sunbites have?
The main problem with Sunbites crackers is the high proportion of salt and the addition of monosodium glutamate. 100g of Sunbites crackers contain 0,93g of sodium, and a sufficient daily intake for adults is 1,5g (19-50 years old). Thus, the maximum daily consumption is 2,4 g, which is as much as 1 teaspoon of salt provides. Remember that salt is added everywhere !! – for bread, ham, cheese.
Are Sunbites harmful?
Assuming we eat 2 ham and cheese sandwiches, we will get the same sodium as eating 100g of Sunbites crackers. I understand that the addition of salt in dry foods is justified, but as a conscious consumer I prefer the product without monosodium glutamate. I know that regular and frequent consumption of monosodium glutamate and salt affects the development of arterial hypertension and cancer, e.g. of the stomach (2), so I give up any products with its addition.
Are there harmful substances in Sunbites?
Sunbites crackers, although they are a savory snack, are not free from glucose-fructose syrup. What is worse, it is on the 3rd place in the composition, which proves that, right after flour, this ingredient is the most numerous. I would like to remind you that glucose-fructose syrup is responsible for the formation of obesity, insulin resistance and other diseases (3).
The manufacturer used monocalcium phosphate and sodium bicarbonate as raising agents. These are safe food additives – the acceptable daily intake of monocalcium phosphate has been set at 70 mg / kg bw, and for monocalcium phosphate such a limit has not been established.
Sunbites – Spring vegetables…. in powder
Encouraged by the attractive packaging with beautiful vegetables and the manufacturer’s description:
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I was expecting a vegetable addition to the crackers. Unfortunately, I had to get away with the taste, as it turned out to be powdered vegetables.
Sunbites reviews
Sunbites crackers can be found in most stores, and their price is about PLN 3,5 per 100g. They are not considered a low-calorie snack as they provide 458 kcal / 100g. Comparing this value to the average requirement of a woman who is not on a diet (2000 kcal), one package covers almost 1/4 of the daily requirement.
A low-calorie alternative to a crunchy, dry snack can be thinly sliced, baked vegetables – e.g. zucchini, beetroot. Then you have freedom in seasoning – just remember to use herbs, not ready-made mixtures with salt 🙂 This solution is also much cheaper and will not negatively affect your figure. I definitely choose this option, and I say NO to the described product due to its composition.
Can You Eat Sunbites On Your Diet?
- Keep in mind that the flavor enhancer is monosodium glutamate.
- Remember to add glucose-fructose syrup.
- Do not eat everything yourself / at once, because they are high in calories.
* photos marked with an asterisk come from the manufacturer’s website http://sunbites.pl/
** saturated fatty acids consumed in excess contribute to the increase of cholesterol and the formation of diseases such as atherosclerosis (1).
Bibliography:
1. Achremowicz K., Gray-Sworst K., Polyunsaturated fatty acids as a factor in the improvement of human health, FOOD. Science. Technology. As, 2005, 3 (44), 23-35.
2. Tsugane S.: Salt, salted food intake, and risk of gastric cancer: epidemiologic evidence. Cancer Sci. 2005, 96, 1, 1-6.
3. Rygielska M., Sadowska J. Technological and health aspects of using high-fructose syrup in food production FOOD. Science. Technology. Quality, 2014, 3 (94), 14 – 26.
What healthy snacks do you recommend? What do you eat during the diet?