How do french fries harm your health?

In the US, 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, equivalent to the level of danger posed by asbestos and tobacco. However, according to Dr. Eric Berg, a nutritionist, french fries may be even more harmful due to the presence of advanced glycation end products, trans fats, glyphosate, and other unknown side effects.

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

Once inside the body, the compound becomes sticky, trapping 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.

Another ingredient in french fries is hydrogenated oil, or trans fat, which hardens the arteries. Many previous reports have shown that this substance causes cancer and creates various internal injuries.

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

The process of heating french fries produces a neurotoxin called acrylamide. This substance is also present when some vegetables are deep-fried. Acrylamide is also used in the production of some paper and plastic products and has the potential to cause cancer and Alzheimer's disease because it affects nerve cells.

French fries 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 rapidly. 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*

Foods with a high glycemic index can raise blood sugar levels, causing the body to produce more insulin, increasing the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Another type of sugar in potato chips is maltodextrin. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, similar to dextrose, this substance increases insulin levels, causing various complications.

Glyphosate in potato chips can seriously affect the digestive system. It's an ingredient in a herbicide sprayed on oats, lentils, potatoes, beets, and corn. Studies have shown glyphosate to be safe for humans, capable of killing some bacteria, and therefore classified as an antibiotic. However, there is growing evidence suggesting it is harmful.

Besides physical effects, a research team in Hangzhou, China, found that people who frequently eat fried foods, especially french fries, have a 12 times higher risk of anxiety and a 7 times higher risk of depression compared to those who consume them less often. The link between french fries and depression is more pronounced in younger people, especially men. This study was published in the journal PNAS on April 24th.

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