How French fries are harmful to health

The combination of starch and fat at high temperatures in French fries can pose significant health risks.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified processed meats such as bacon, sausages, ham, and others as group 1 carcinogens, putting them on par with asbestos and tobacco. However, according to nutritionist Dr. Eric Berg, French fries may be even more harmful due to their advanced glycation end products, trans fats, glyphosate, and unknown side effects.

Specifically, French fries contain starch and fat that are cooked at high temperatures. The end products of this process are advanced glycation end products (AGEs).

Once in the body, the compound becomes sticky, locking up all the tissue cells in the eyes, brain, heart and kidneys, preventing these tissues from functioning properly. AGEs create oxidative stress, causing inflammation, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

The next ingredient in potato chips is hydrogenated oil, or trans fat, which hardens the arteries. Many previous reports have shown that this substance causes cancer and creates a lot of damage inside the body.

Seed oils such as corn, canola, cottonseed, soybean, peanut or sunflower oils, commonly used in fried foods today, are also harmful to the body. They promote oxidation when used at high temperatures, causing inflammation.

Heating French fries creates a neurotoxin called acrylamide, which is produced when certain vegetables are deep-fried. Acrylamide, also used in the manufacture of some paper and plastic products, has been linked to cancer and Alzheimer’s disease because it affects nerve cells.

Potato chips also contain a lot of sugar, not in the form of regular table sugar but in the form of dextrose, which causes blood sugar levels to rise more quickly. Table sugar has a glycemic index of 65, while dextrose has an index of 100.

A plate of french fries. Photo: Pexel — A plate of french fries. Photo: *Pexel*

High glycemic index foods can spike blood sugar levels, causing the body to produce more insulin, increasing the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

The other sugar in potato chips is maltodextrin. Like dextrose, it increases insulin levels, which can cause complications, according to the FDA.

Glyphosate, the chemical found in potato chips, can cause serious digestive problems. It is an ingredient in a herbicide that is sprayed on oats, lentils, potatoes, sugar beets, and corn. Studies have shown that glyphosate is safe for humans and can kill some bacteria, which is why it is classified as an antibiotic. However, there is growing evidence that it is harmful.

In addition to the physical effects, a research team in Hangzhou, China, found that people who regularly eat fried foods, especially French fries, have a 12 times higher risk of anxiety and a 7 times higher risk of depression than those who rarely consume them. The link between French fries and depression is more evident in young people, especially men. This work was published in the journal PNAS on April 24.

Thuc Linh (According to CNN , Epoch )

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