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We couldn’t be happier that the world is finally focusing on good gut health or that psyllium husk is about as buzzy of a term as ashwagandha these days. However, we need to shift everyone’s attention over to a sneaky class of chemicals known as excitotoxins. 

Sure, it may not be as exciting to discuss as the gut microbiome or baking low-carb treats, but seeing as these health-damaging poisons lurk in a number of “healthy” foods and may ultimately increase your risk for various health conditions, it’s definitely a good idea to learn about them. 

In this post, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about excitotoxins by comparing Hilo Chips and Uprising Chips (two popular brands dedicated to making “healthy” food) to uncover which healthy chip is best. 

So, What Exactly Are Excitotoxins Anyway? 

Excitotoxins are a class of highly addictive chemicals that stimulate taste receptors on the tongue. In other words, they’re chemicals added to food to make them taste better. 

The not-so-friendly additives are basically non-essential amino acids that aim to stimulate your umami sensory, which can cause you to eat much more than what you had intended or were even hungry for. 

While there are many different neurotoxins that can have various effects on health, the most common include:

• Aspartate
• Cysteine
• Glutamate (aka, monosodium glutamate or MSG) 
• Domoic Acid
• L-BOAA

Excitotoxins are commonly used as a way to boost the sales of processed foods by flavor “enhancers” to make otherwise flavorless food taste, well.. good. You’ll find these questionable ingredients in packaged foods like soups, sauces, gravies, bread, crackers, and more. They can also be found in foods that claim to be “healthy.”    

Why Are Excitotoxins So Terrible?

Other than tricking you into thinking that your eyes are bigger than your stomach, excitotoxins cause an overstimulation of the nervous system, which can cause brain cells to be destroyed. 

Yup, it’s true — and some of these neurotoxic substances have the potential for inflicting permanent damage to the brain and nervous system. What’s more, excitotoxins cross the placental barrier and may harm the tiny noggins of babies. 

Needless to say, the health-damaging food additives are best to be avoided. 

Hilo Chips vs. Uprising Chips: The Ultimate “Healthy” Chip Showdown 

Now that you’re an expert on all-things-excitotoxins, let’s dive into the ultimate healthy chip showdown between Hilo Chips and Uprising Chips, shall we?

The Scoop on Hilo Chips 

Brought to you by PepsiCo, Hilo Chips were developed for carb-conscious snackers who have “Nosh-talgia” and miss traditional chips. The tasty snack possesses a crunchy texture and bold flavors like Nacho Cheese, Ranch, and Spicy Salsa. 

Hilo Chips are made with defatted almond flour for less fat and more protein than traditional almond flour. Some of the other ingredients found in Hilo Chips include:

• High oleic sunflower oil
• Milk protein
• Nacho cheese seasoning
• Whey protein concentrate
• Natural flavoring
• Yeast extract
• Annatto
• Pea protein isolate
• Chia protein
• Potato starch

In one serving, you’ll find two grams of fiber, ten grams of protein, and three net carbs. 

The Deets on Uprising Chips 

On a mission to close the fiber gap by delivering fiber-packed supplements disguised as savory staples to the masses, Uprising Food is waging a war on poor gut health. By utilizing the power of fiber-rich chips, this health-conscious brand is challenging everyone to improve their microbiome system. 

Uprising Chips are masterfully baked using Artisan methods and only a handful of superfood ingredients, including:

• Almonds
• Psyllium husk
• Flax seeds
• Egg whites
• Apple cider vinegar
• Baking powder
• MCT oil
• Olive oil  

In one serving, you’ll fuel your body with nine grams of fiber, six grams of protein, and two net carbs — perfect for keto dieters and low-carb warriors! But that’s not all. These heavenly high-crunch chips are also gluten-free, paleo-approved, and diabetic-friendly. What’s not to love?

Any Sneaky Excitotoxins Lurking in the Ingredients? 

Both Hilo Chips and Uprising Chips are marketed as “healthy” snacks — but do they contain any health-damaging excitotoxins? 

Let’s Start With Hilo Chips

Although Hilo Chips are tasty, the tortilla-style chips are baked with a few icky neurotoxic ingredients, such as:

• Annatto 
• Yeast extract
• Whey protein concentrate
• Pea protein isolate
• Nacho cheese seasoning
• Natural flavoring

As mentioned a little earlier, these harmful ingredients are often used to boost food sales by sweetening the snack artificially or otherwise, enhancing the chip’s taste due to it losing its natural flavors to processing. So, if you’re addicted to the divine taste of Hilo Chips — you can probably thank all of those not-so-wonderful chemicals!

Ok — What About Uprising Chips?

Believe it or not, Uprising Chips are made with only a few superfood ingredients like psyllium husk, almonds, and egg whites. They are baked to perfection without any added sugar, questionable ingredients, or excitotoxins and provide a healthy nine grams of fiber as well as six grams of protein in every serving. 

Unlike Hilo Chips, Uprising Chips aren’t addicting because they’re made with food additives, no sir. Uprising Chips are baked with love and clean ingredients designed to support you on your health and wellness journey — not sabotage it. They taste absolutely amazing and are perfect for anyone on the hunt for a healthy snack.

So — Which Chip Is Best?

At the end of the day, both Hilo Chips and Uprising Chips are healthier alternatives to traditional chips from the grocery store. However, when digging into the nitty-gritty to uncover the ingredients in each beloved snack, there’s no denying that Uprising Chips reign supreme. 

Why? 

Simple — Uprising Chips are completely free of excitotoxins, whereas Hilo Chips contain quite a few. But that’s not all…  

In addition to their brag-worthy ingredients list, Uprising Chips offer nine grams of fiber and six grams of protein in each serving. And at only two net carbs per bag, these high-crunch chips are absolutely perfect for keto dieters, low-carb warriors, and health-conscious eaters. Not to mention they’re also gluten-free — finally, chips you can feel good about eating!

A Final Word

If you’ve ever wondered why you can’t just eat one chip — excitotoxins are typically to blame. These highly addictive chemicals are found in almost all processed foods to make them irresistible. When consumed in excess, excitotoxins pose major health risks that can negatively affect one’s quality of life in more ways than one. 

Needless to say, these health-damaging chemicals should be avoided at all costs.

Here at Uprising Food, we know how tough it can be to navigate the murky waters of healthy eating. Not only is it important to keep track of your daily macros, but you also need to be on the lookout for icky ingredients hiding in your favorite snacks. 

To help make your journey to improve your overall health a little easier, we created our Uprising Chips using only a handful of superfoods— no added sugar and absolutely nothing artificial. 

With us, you’ll never find any hard-to-pronounce ingredients or confusing additives on any of our nutrition labels. In each serving, our high-crunch chips will provide you with an abundance of body-nourishing nutrients in addition to nine grams of fiber and six grams of protein to keep you full, energized, and happy throughout the day. 

Whether you’re on a mission to nix excitotoxins from your diet, searching for tasty low-carb snacks, or simply trying to find the best keto-approved bread on the planet, you can always count on us to have your back. 

Sources:  

Excitotoxins in Your Food | Dr. Sears Wellness Institute

Excitotoxins in foods | PubMed

EWG's Food Scores | Natural vs. Artificial Flavors

3 Health Benefits of MCT Oil | Cleveland Clinic

Excitotoxicity and cell damage | Science Daily

Effects of antenatal uteroplacental hypoperfusion on neonatal microvascularization and excitotoxin sensitivity in mice | PubMed

If you ask us, there's just about nothing better than bread. From delicious sandwiches stacked sky-high with luscious deli meats and cheeses ad sliced in half with a sharp knife to creamy avocado spread perfectly over toast and topped with an egg and a drizzle of olive oil, bread is versatile. It can be enjoyed at any time — or during any meal — of the day.

Want to start the morning with a sweet treat? Grab a few slices of fresh bread and make french toast, drizzled with honey and the lightest sprinkle of sea salt. 

In the mood for a salad at lunch? Toss greens with your favorite dressing and a handful of homemade croutons for an extra crunch. 

Searching for a warm and cozy recipe to whip up at dinnertime? Try our delicious Uprising Bread Meatloaf with Cauli Mash — trust us, this one is sure to be a hit! Seriously, bread is basically the perfect vessel for anything. 

Of all the foods in the world, it's tough to deny that bread is the best. After all, what tastes as heavenly as a slice of freshly baked bread right out of the oven? Or what smells better than the divine aroma that comes from a fresh loaf made with love? 

Bread is undeniably and indisputably wonderful — what's not so wonderful, however, are the questionable ingredients commonly found in a loaf of pre-packaged white bread. But don't worry, not all bread is bad…

Enter: Ezekiel Bread and Uprising Bread

While in the pursuit of finding healthy bread, these two brands are sure to come across your path, but which one is better? We'll tell you. Read on as we explore Ezekiel Bread and Uprising Bread to uncover how they differ and which one reigns supreme. 

 What’s Wrong With Traditional White Bread Anyway?  

The superstar of lunchbox sandwiches and chauffeur of sliced salami and cheese, white bread is loved far and wide due to its convenience, versatility, and affordability. That said, we're beginning to see fewer people reach for white bread these days. 

 Reason #1: It’s Not Filling 

White bread is made from refined grain that has had all the body-nourishing nutrients — such as fiber, bran, and germ — stripped away. Bread made from this type of grain is digested rapidly and won't leave you feeling full and satisfied. In other words, white bread is not filling and may leave you battling hunger pangs throughout the day. 

 Reason #2: It’s Made With Icky Ingredients 

There's no secret that high fructose corn syrup is damaging to one's health — but the amount of potentially harmful ingredients commonly found in white bread doesn't stop there. White bread often contains bleach, along with other icky chemicals to give the loaf its iconic white color and to prolong shelf life.

 Reason #3: It Has No Nutritional Value 

As mentioned a little earlier, white bread is made from refined flour. These grains have undergone a process that removes bran, which contains antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber, as well as germ, which contains protein, minerals, and healthy fats. So when eating white bread, you're really not providing your body with any substantial nutrients.

High in calories and low in macronutrients, white bread has no nutritional value, which is why many folks turn to healthier options— like Ezekiel Bread and Uprising Bread. 

 Ezekiel Bread vs. Uprising Bread: The Ultimate Showdown 

We don't blame you if cutting bread out of your diet is simply not an option — and with Ezekiel Bread and Uprising Bread, you don't have to. These popular brands provide delicious bread that is both tasty and nutritious, but how are they different? 

 The Ingredients

By now, we know that white bread is made from refined grains and is baked with many questionable ingredients. So, what's in Ezekiel Bread and what's in Uprising Bread? 

Let's start with Ezekiel Bread.

A flourless bread made from sprouted grains, Ezekiel Bread, is a pretty health bread containing many good-for-you ingredients, including: 

• Organic sprouted wheat
• Organic sprouted barley
• Organic sprouted millet
• Organic malted barley
• Organic sprouted lentils 
• Organic sprouted soybeans
• Organic sprouted spelt
• Fresh yeast
• Organic wheat gluten 

Made without any added sugar, one serving of Ezekiel Bread contains three grams of fiber, four grams of protein, and 12 net carbs. The sprouting process helps to make more nutrients available. They also have a low sodium version and a few different flavors. 

It’s important to note, though, that even though it doesn’t contain traditional flour, Ezekiel Bread isn’t suitable for people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance. 

Ok— what about Uprising Bread?  

Uprising Bread is truly something special containing only a handful of superfood ingredients, such as:

• Almonds
• Psyllium husk
• Flax seeds
• Egg whites
• Apple cider vinegar
• Baking powder

In each serving, you'll find nine grams of fiber, six grams of protein, and only two net carbs. 

 The Taste

Ezekiel Bread is made from sprouted grains, so it has a heartier texture and nuttier flavor than your typical store-bought whole-grain bread. It can be a bit chewy and dense, but if you're already used to eating whole-grain bread, this wouldn't be too much of a stretch. 

Ezekiel Bread may not taste like classic white bread, but it certainly comes with a higher availability of nutrients, and it’s packed with essential amino acids. It's full of plant protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, thanks to the presence of beans. What's not to love when it comes to nutrition? 

Some people even try to make their own version of Ezekiel bread, kneading up dough and greasing up loaf pans to try and replicate the precise mixture. Some of these recipes include ingredients like dry kidney beans and pinto beans, but rest assured that it’s a pretty involved process. Unless you’re a whiz with the dough hook attachment on your mixer, you may want to save your energy. 

Uprising Bread, on the other hand, is made from superfood ingredients that create a nutty sourdough-esque taste. It's not obnoxiously crumbly like some specialty breads and is strong enough to use for sandwiches, toast, and really anything where you would normally use bread. 

 So — Which Loaf Is Better? 

Traditional white bread is highly refined and stripped of its natural nutrients, providing little to no nutritional value. What's more, it often contains copious amounts of sugar, confusing ingredients, and hidden chemicals. White bread isn't exactly the healthiest food on the planet!

Thankfully, we have Ezekiel Bread and Uprising Bread — but which loaf is best?

At the end of the day, both brands are leaps and bounds better than traditional white bread found at the grocery store. However, if we had to pick between the two, we'd have to side with Uprising Bread. 

Uprising Bread made without any refined grains or added sugar. Unlike Ezekiel Bread, each loaf is masterfully baked with a handful of superfood ingredients like psyllium husk and egg whites designed to keep your body energized, full, and happy from sun-up to sun-down. 

It's gluten-free in addition to being keto-approved, and if you ask us, it's just about the best thing since, well… sliced bread!     

 A Final Word 

So, how does Ezekiel Bread differ from Uprising Bread, you ask? Sure, they are both a good source of dietary fiber and certain nutrients, but there are some serious differences. 

Ezekiel Bread is made from organic, sprouted whole grains and legumes. It has a rich, nutty flavor and a dense texture that can sometimes be a bit chewy. In a single serving, you'll find three grams of fiber, five grams of protein, and twelve net carbs. 

Uprising Bread is not made from grains, but masterfully crafted from a small list of superfood ingredients, such as psyllium husk, almonds, and apple cider vinegar. 

It has a nutty sourdough-esque taste that will send your taste buds back to childhood, reminding you of your favorite bread that you grew up loving — but without all the processed grains, sugar and fillers. Unlike Ezekiel Bread, Uprising Bread is gluten-free and keto-approved, containing nine grams of fiber, six grams of protein, and only two net carbs per serving. That means it actively helps close the fiber gap and can aid digestion.   

When searching for healthy bread, Ezekiel Bread is a decent option, but when on the hunt for the best option, Uprising Bread simply can't be beat. 

Here at Uprising Food, we believe our "one-of-a-kind" superfood bread is the healthiest food in the game, but it tastes like heaven. Baked to perfection with clean ingredients and absolutely nothing artificial, finally — bread you can feel good about eating!

In the mood for a crunchy snack instead? Put down the bread and check out our low-carb, high-crunch Superfood Chips — fiber-packed supplements disguised as savory staples. Hand-made with artisan methods, these crunchy nutrient-dense chips are not only delish but also gluten-free, paleo-approved, and keto-friendly. 

Whether you're looking for tasty low-carb snacks, nutritious bread, or food that won't kick you out of ketosis, you can always count on us to have your back. 

Sources: 

[historical record]: food for life, ezekiel 4:9, flax sprouted grain bread | FDC

Antioxidants: What You Need to Know | Family Doctor.org

Ranking the best Ezekiel bread of 2021 | BodyNutrition

White Bread - UC Master Gardeners of Monterey Bay | ANR Blogs