What’s Healthier: Blue Corn Chips Or Yellow Ones?

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Not only are they a pretty color, the pigments responsible for their blue shade, anthocyanins, may have additional health benefits. “Studies have shown that corn anthocyanins may have anti-inflammatory benefits and may also help to control body weight,” says Tasneem Bhatia, M.D., a doctor, nutritionist, and author of the 21-Day Belly Fix. Anthocyanins also show up in foods like berries and red wine, where studies have linked them to reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, and cancer.

Try dunking your chips in this delectable sweet potato dip:

Compared with their pale counterparts, blue corn chips also ring in with between 20 and 30 percent more protein and 5 to 10 percent fewer starch, which ultimately makes them a more filling snack. And they generally have a sweeter taste than regular corn ships to boot. Sounds pretty tasty, right?

But while you might be tempted to let the chips fall where they may, beware. “Even though blue corn tortilla chips can have a slight nutritional advantage, they are not the elixir of snacks,” says Chaparro. Frying essentially removes most of disease-fighting properties found in blue corn, so your best bet is to stick with a portion-controlled amount—she recommends around a one-ounce serving (10-12 chips) per week. And she likes to see add-ins like chia and brown rice—what she calls a “pumped up chip”. “You still get the crunchiness from the chip but with some added nutrition like whole grains, fiber, and healthy fats,” she says. Bring on the dip.