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Yes, fries taste amazing, but if you plan on eating them frequently, be prepared to experience some consequences down the road.
In the long-term, one particular consequence is probable: According to research involving 4,500 adults published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, eating French fries more than twice per week may double your chance of dying early.
Know that the oils in which the potatoes were fried were the key driving force behind the increased health risk — not the potatoes themselves. The researchers could not relate other potato cooking methods to an elevated mortality rate.
However, if that isn't enough to persuade you to limit your consumption of deep-fried potatoes, keep reading because we've gathered a few more unpleasant side effects.
Photo by Louis Hansel on Unsplash
What makes French fries dangerous?
First, it is essential to note that French fries combine starch and fat under high heat. This creates advanced glycation end products, which affect your brain, eyes, kidneys, and heart.
This food is prepared with hydrogenated oils. Hydrogenated oils contain trans fats, which affect your cells, harden your arteries, and may increase your risk for cancer.
Acrylamide is a neurotoxin in this food and has been linked to Alzheimer's disease.
And how can we forget the sugar?
Sugar can lead to many different health problems. This food may contain sugar, beet sugar, dextrose, or maltodextrin. All of these types of sugars are very dangerous.
Also, glyphosate can alter a person's microbiome and lead to adverse health effects.
Ketchup in French fries contains high fructose corn syrup, leading to fatty liver and insulin resistance. It also has corn syrup, modified corn starch (MSG), and soy oil.
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What are the side effects caused by eating French fries in excess?
Your stomach may hurt
Because the body more slowly digests fats than carbs and proteins — and because they contain more calories from how they're cooked — your fries will likely stay in your stomach for much longer than if you were filling up on healthier food.
According to a study published in the Ultrasound International Open, you'll have a greater chance of suffering from stomach pains due to this unique digestion process.
Other side effects of your body's digestive struggle with fried foods include nausea, diarrhea, bloating, and cramping.
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A foggy brain
Fries are high in trans fat, which raises your bad cholesterol and lowers your good cholesterol. The significant influence of this is that you'll raise your heart disease risk.
According to 10-year research involving 1,600 elderly individuals in Japan published in the journal Neurology, individuals with the most significant amounts of industrial trans fats in their blood had up to 75% higher chances of getting Alzheimer's or dementia.
Your immune system could be affected
Suppose you frequently consume greasy foods like fries. In that case, according to a study published in the Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition & Metabolic Care journal, you might be harming your gut microbiome. An unhealthy gut affects your immune system and makes you more susceptible to diseases.
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You increase your risk of stroke and heart disease
A new study has found that eating fried foods can significantly increase your heart attack and stroke risk.
The study, which was conducted by researchers at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology Research and Information Center, looked at 150,000 military veterans and found that those who ate fried foods three times per week had a 7 percent greater risk of heart attack or stroke than those who didn't eat any fried food.
And for those who ate fried foods every day, their risk doubled to 15 percent. "Our findings provide evidence for a dose-dependent association between fried food consumption and incidence [of coronary artery disease]," the researchers concluded.
Weight gain
When foods are fried in fat, they become super calorie bombs.
To provide just one example of backing evidence for the link between fries and your waistline — and, to be sure, there are many — a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that eating fried foods was directly linked to cases of obesity.
This is one of several reasons fries rank high among the world's unhealthiest fast foods.
Takeaway
Potatoes, in general, pose a bit of a problem since they are both healthy and unhealthy: Their starchiness makes them a high-glycemic food and, therefore, a risk to cardiovascular and metabolic health. But they are high in fiber and water and contain many nutrients, which are all benefits.
So while researchers are still checking out what about French fries and other types of fried potatoes that make them so risky, it may be wise to limit them and see them as an unhealthy once-in-a-while indulgence rather than a staple.
Disclaimer: Dr. Berner does not diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical diseases or conditions; instead, he analyzes and corrects the structure of his patients with Foundational Correction to improve their overall quality of life. He works with their physicians, who regulate their medications. This blog post is not designed to provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment, or services to you or any other individual. The information provided in this post or through linkages to other sites is not a substitute for medical or professional care. You should not use the information in place of a visit, consultation, or the advice of your physician or another healthcare provider. Foundation Chiropractic and Dr. Brett Berner are not liable or responsible for any advice, the course of treatment, diagnosis, or any other information, services, or product you obtain through this article or others.
