Is Tajin Bad for You? Debunking the Myths

Sometimes, while eating something I enjoy, I suddenly feel the need to do background searches on it. Knowing how sensitive my body can be to even the slightest change or ingredient in my diet, quick random searches are so important to me.

Would it hurt to you know, wing it sometimes and just eat whatever, whenever? Haha! I don’t think I want to come to terms with the aftermath of such a decision.

If you’re like me, Tajin is one of your Achilles’ heels rather than just another random food, and you’d want to know if Tajin can be bad for you.

Is Tajin Bad for You?

No, not exactly. Tajin itself is a healthy seasoning, but things can go wrong when too much of it is consumed. From dried and ground red chilis to dehydrated lime juice, sea salt, and sometimes, anti-caking agent, Tajin’s ingredients are very healthy for you.

This salty and sharp-flavored Mexican seasoning has earned its flowers not just for being interesting to eat but also for having no artificial flavors, no fat and calories, no carbs, no artificial coloring, and no sugar.

Tajin, like vitamins, is very healthy only when consumed in the right amount. So, a quick, light sprinkle on your food will have it ready to go.

Is Tajin High in Sodium?

Not all the time. Tajin can be made with less sodium. Low sodium Tajin varieties include Tajin Clasico low sodium seasoning. If by any chance taking too much sodium puts you at a health risk, the low sodium Tajin variety is the best bet. It has 37% less amount of sodium than the generic Tajin Clasico seasoning.

The amount of sodium contained per serving (1/4 of a teaspoon) of the Tajin Clasico low sodium seasoning is about 120mg.

Can you be addicted to Tajin?

Yes, this is very possible. Addictions span different things and Tajin is not an exception. The tangy, slightly spicy, and salty taste of Tajin seasoning gives it a near-magical flavor, and the fact that it can go with a lot of foods means it could get you addicted when consumed regularly. In fact, this unique seasoning is so delicious that the manufacturers had to put a “this is not candy” warning on the packaging because children ate it directly from the bottle, the same way they would eat candy.

The key to using Tajin seasoning is literally the key to eating or using anything. Always try to use it in moderation. Addiction is never good even though it may seem harmless. Tajin addiction isn’t harmless, it has both long-term and short-term health effects, some of which will be listed below.

What happens when you eat a lot of Tajin?

Overconsumption of Tajin spice has both long and short-term effects. This is due to one of Tajin’s main ingredients, sea salt. In the short term, ingesting too much salt can cause bloating, an increase in blood pressure, surplus thirst.

In the long run, eating too much salt may result in high blood pressure, the likelihood of stomach cancer, the possibility of heart disease, and higher chances of untimely death.

If you realize you may have had too much Tajin seasoning in your food which means it increased the amount of salt in your system, you should drink enough water to help your body sustain its sodium to water ratio. Alternatively, you can eat foods that contain high amounts of potassium to help balance out the negative effects of sodium confined in the salt-based meal.

Is Tajin bad for your teeth?

Yes, it can be. Tajin is a spicy seasoning and spicy food, in general, may cause some discomfort for your teeth from time to time, especially if you have sensitive teeth. Spicy food doesn’t necessarily ruin your teeth, but you may be uncomfortable when you take spicy food if you have sensitive teeth. Here are some side effects of spicy food on your teeth:

The high levels of acidity in the food is a big red flag for sensitive teeth and this upsets it.
Spicy meals can send your teeth to discoloration town. Sometimes, spicy meals are composed of ingredients that can color the teeth when eaten too much.

Is Tajin bad for you while pregnant?

Too much Tajin can be bad for both you and the baby. Moderation is key.

You can eat Tajin while pregnant but in moderate volumes, as it is easy to get distracted due to pregnancy cravings. Recommended salt intake is about 1 teaspoon of salt a day.

Because one of Tajin’s main ingredients is salt, it is okay to eat Tajin during pregnancy as salt contains sodium and chloride that is important for you and the baby’s health. However, the amount of salt consumed during pregnancy needs to be paid a lot of attention.

Is Tajin bad for your period?

The salt in Tajin spice can cause discomfort during periods. When you already feel horrible and uncomfortable during your period, the last thing you’d want to do is to ingest a salt-based food.

Bloating and water retention during periods are common experiences for some. If this is you, reducing your intake of sodium (foods with salt) will greatly ease the discomfort.

Despite its salt-based reputation that can potentially cause some discomfort and side effects, Tajin remains such a uniquely crafted spice that offers a well-blended citrusy taste to foods. The advice is to always use it moderately so Tajin doesn’t become potentially bad for you. You can use Tajin healthily by consuming ¼ of a teaspoon per serving; that’s about two pinches of your thumb, index, and middle fingers at the same time. It can be used to eat fruits, vegetables, make marinades for shrimps, chicken, and even fish to give it that taste that will have you go ‘delicioso!’

Chinwe

I write about the intersection between evolutionary biology and food. I also talk about practical applications, sustainable agriculture, and general tasty things