French fries aren’t very healthy, and that probably doesn’t come as much of a shock to you. But even more than unhealthy, eating the deep-fried taters at least twice a week was linked with an increased risk of early death. [1]
Over an 8-year period, a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition tracked the French fry consumption of 4,400 men and women, ages 45 to 79. At the end of the study, 236 of the participants had died. [2]
After adjusting for several factors, eating potatoes – even gorging on them – was not linked to an increased risk of death. But eating fried potatoes – including French fries, fried potatoes, and hash browns – at least twice a week more than doubled the risk of death.
The researchers write that fiber, vitamins, and micronutrients in unfried potatoes “could have counterbalanced the detrimental effects of their high glycemic index.” The loads of salt and fat in French fries and other types of fried potatoes could contribute to the increased risk of early death, but the link is merely an association, at this point.
The study concluded:
“The frequent consumption of fried potatoes appears to be associated with an increased mortality risk. Additional studies in larger sample sizes should be performed to confirm if overall potato consumption is associated with higher mortality risk.”
Research with larger groups of people is needed before scientists can definitively say that eating too many French fries may shorten your lifespan.
Read: What You Should Know About the Carcinogenic Nature of Overcooked Foods
In the meantime, the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion recommends 3-5 daily servings of vegetables. Potatoes and other starchy veggies count, but the center’s food pyramid discourages consuming fried varieties.
If you’re a lover of French fries, taking a look at what goes into McDonald’s fries may turn your stomach enough to transform you into a baked potato fan.
Sources:
[1] Men’s Health
[2] Time