French fries may be tempting, but giving in to temptation could be deadly. Nutrition scientists from Italy, Great Britain and the US noted that potatoes have a high glycemic index. That is, they tend to raise blood sugar quickly. But they also contain many nutrients, so it can be difficult to estimate how they will affect health.
The Trouble with French Fries:
In a new study, 4,400 middle-aged and older people were followed up for eight years. They filled out a detailed dietary survey at the start of the study. Most of them ate potatoes frequently, at least twice a month, and a third of the volunteers ate potatoes three or more times a week.
Just eating potatoes didn’t seem to make a difference. Those who indulged in French fries at least twice a week, however, were about twice as likely to die during the study as those who never ate them. Perhaps the large amount of trans fat often found in French fries (and potato chips) is partly to blame.
This study wasn’t able to determine exactly why French fries seem so risky. The researchers recommend that similar investigations be carried out in larger groups of people to see if this association can be confirmed.
Veronese et al, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, online June 7, 2017
