How healthy is it to eat tamales?

Tamale is one of those Mexican foods that is often part of breakfast , especially when you have little time before going to work, school, or if you don't have much space to cook. They are sold from carts on almost every corner, and inside the steaming pots, diners can find A wide variety ranging from meat in red or green sauce; to sweet pineapple, corn, cajeta, or strained; or less popular varieties such as chard with cheese, rajas, mole, or picadillo. and more to mention.

But how healthy is eating tamales?

In response to this question, during Candlemas Day last February, the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) urged the public to take precautions and avoid health problems during the celebration. It mentioned that during this holiday, families gather to eat tamales, which, in excess, can cause complications for their well-being.

According to the IMSS explanation at that time, the tamale is a delicious and good food if eaten in moderation, since It has a high content of calories, carbohydrates and fats; He mentioned that eating a single piece represents around 600 calories, and if accompanied by atole, for example, it can rise to nearly 1,000 calories. It's common for people to eat them, either with a soft drink on the side or some other sugary hot beverage , which considerably increases the energy content consumed.

The Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) then stated that eating a tamale with a cup of atole would require the body to expend an energy equivalent to what it consumed, meaning it would require running approximately 15 kilometers at a speed of 7 kilometers per hour—a run lasting more than two hours to force the body to expend that energy.

The institute cited the WHO to explain that Adult men need about 2,000 calories a day, while women need between 1,600 and 1,800, That is, eating a tamale in a sandwich and atole could be enough to satisfy that energy requirement for the day.

The IMSS recommends avoiding excessive consumption of tamales and replacing traditional atole with a cup of unsweetened tea or coffee to avoid consuming extra calories. Ideally, limit yourself to just one tamale per day. You should also ensure that they are thoroughly cooked, as spoiled or undercooked dough or meat can lead to gastrointestinal infections.

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