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Researchers have found that consuming more servings of french fries can be tied to an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes
According to a study published in the British Medical Journal, eating three or more servings of the side each week can increase one’s chance of developing the chronic condition by 20%
“Not all potatoes are created equal,” lead author Seyed Mohammad Mousavi said
A new study suggests that frequently eating french fries can increase one’s risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, in comparison to other ways of consuming potatoes.
Eating three or more servings of the side each week can increase one’s chance of developing the chronic condition by 20%, while eating fries five times a week can increase one’s chances by 27%, according to the study published in the British Medical Journal on Wednesday, Aug. 6.
“Our findings underscore that the association between potato intake and type 2 diabetes risk depends on the specific foods used as replacement,” researchers say. “The findings also align with current dietary recommendations that promote the inclusion of whole grains as part of a healthy diet for the prevention of type 2 diabetes.”
The researchers behind the study, who encourage consumers to “consider preparation method and replacement food when assessing health risks,” found that such risks didn’t apply as much to those who consumed baked, boiled or mashed potatoes — which still increased risk by only 5%, in comparison, per The Guardian.
“Potatoes can be part of a healthy diet, but it’s how we prepare them that makes the difference,” Dr. Kawther Hashem of Queen Mary University of London said, per The Guardian. “Boiled, baked or mashed potatoes are naturally low in fat and a source of fibre, vitamin C and potassium.”
“But when we deep fry them into chips or french fries, especially in large portions and with added salt, they become less healthy with their high-fat, salt and calorie content that’s much more likely to contribute to weight gain and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes,” she added.
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Stock image of falling french fries
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For the study, an international team of researchers examined the diets of over 205,000 U.S. adults who had their eating habits documented every four years between 1984 and 2021. Over 22,000 cases of Type 2 diabetes were documented during the nearly 40-year time period.
Lead author Seyed Mohammad Mousavi, a research fellow at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said the results suggest the importance in how food is prepared on one’s health risks or benefits, per NBC News.
“Not all potatoes are created equal,” he said. “Even a small amount of french fries, less than one serving in the week, is associated with a higher risk of Type 2 diabetes.”
“When you fry the potatoes, the energy content — calories — increases because of the fat they absorb. If you eat many servings of french fries, it predisposes [people] to weight gain,” added Candida Rebello of Louisiana State University, who was not involved in the study.
The research also suggested that those who swap out three weekly potato servings with servings of whole grains saw an 8% lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, per the BBC. White rice, however, had a stronger association with the chronic condition.
Shannon Galyean of Texas Tech University, who was not part of the study, told NBC News that the research did not account for the additional ingredients that come with potatoes — such as bacon, cheese or sour cream.
“Definitely, potatoes can be considered a healthy food when you don’t fry it, or when you don’t add lots of fat to it,” Galyean said.
Read the original article on People
