Why You Should Think Twice About Ordering Wendy's Chili Cheese Fries

Heat may well be beneficial for a bad back, but it's not necessarily universally admired — after all, people live in places like Alaska for a reason. Climate aside, spicy food is an especially common example of how controversial heat can be.

It's not for everyone. Some people simply don't want spicy food to rip apart their throat and turn their eyes into the Niagara Falls during a flood. For those folks, steering well away from chili is a priority during all culinary adventures. That said, Wendy's Chili Cheese Fries may be too much of a saucy snack for them.

But the flavor displeasure the fries may inflict on some consumers isn't the only reason why Wendy's Chili Cheese Fries could be a treat to avoid. Anyone thinking of indulging the cheesy fries should be aware that they're — perhaps unsurprisingly — not exactly the healthiest option to meet the demands of a hungry stomach.

Wendy's is noticeably unreserved in its endorsement of its Chili Cheese Fries, describing them on its website as an elegant example of dripping cheese and filling chili mingled with actual sea salt. Surely irresistible — until the nutrition of the cheesy fries is considered, which doesn't quite match that of a juicy apple.

There are 520 calories in the cheesy fries, as well as 1,330 milligrams of sodium – a sizable chunk of the FDA's recommended daily maximum of 2,300 milligrams of salt. These figures matter because if we consume more calories than our bodies need, they are converted into fat, leading to weight gain, according to the NHS. Meanwhile, the FDA explains that high salt intake increases the chances of developing high blood pressure, resulting in heart damage.

The presence of 9 grams of saturated fat is also notable. Although a small number, a 2,000-calorie diet should not exceed 13 grams of saturated fat, according to the American Heart Association. This is due to the increased cholesterol that saturated fat causes, contributing to heart disease. While Wendy's Chili Cheese Fries are surely suitable as an occasional treat, overindulgence could negatively impact your health. If you order them, consider sharing them with someone.