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The Unexpected Risks of French Fries

In an eight-year-long study of older Americans, those who ate French fries more than once a week were twice as likely to die than those who rarely ate them.

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 

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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