Fried foods are dangerously delicious and hard to resist. But, they’re also the worst foods you can eat if you’re trying to lose weight. Although tasty, your favorite fried foods are typically packed with unhealthy ingredients like trans fats, processed carbs, and a whole lot of empty calories. While it’s best to avoid anything fried or breaded if you’re trying to lose some pounds, health experts warn that fried foods like French fries, mozzarella sticks, and onion rings can cause an inflamed stomach.
To learn more about the downsides of these fried treats, we spoke with Catherine Gervacio, registered dietitian and nutrition writer for Living.Fit, registered dietitian and creator of The Candida Diet, Lisa Richards, and registered dietitian Katelyn Brockmiller. They said that french fries, mozzarella sticks, and onion rings can often lead to stomach inflammation because of the oils that they are usually fried in. These oils have a high concentration of inflammatory fat, omega-6, and are low in anti-inflammatory fats. Read on to learn more!
French fries
As you probably already know, those delectable French fries from your favorite fast food place are horrible for your health. Gervacio warns that this fan-favorite fried treat can cause serious inflammation in the stomach and should especially be avoided if you're trying to lose weight. "Not only are [French fries] high in fat—they are empty calorie foods, which means they don't contain substantial nutrients, they only give calories, which won't be helpful for weight management and health in general," she warns. Yikes!
Overall, french fries are full of empty calories that won't satiate your hunger or provide your body with the nutrients it needs to thrive. This will not only ruin your metabolism over time but also that you're more likely to get hungry again and eat more later in the day. Gervacio adds that most fast food French fries contain high amounts of trans fat, which can cause and worsen inflammation. Stomach inflammation can make weight loss efforts even harder.
Mozzarella sticks
Similarly, Richards acknowledges that mozzarella sticks are "agreeably much worse in terms of nutrition than others." Mozzarella sticks are not only fried, she says, but they contain high-fat cheese as well which can lead to an inflamed stomach. "This appetizer is one of the worst for your metabolism because it contains a significant amount of calories and fat along with the inflammatory nature of the ingredients," she explains.
Mozzarella sticks contain high levels of both gluten and dairy, which Richards says are "inflammatory and can lead to bloating and weight gain." Stomach inflammation and bloating, she adds, will ultimately slow down your metabolism and make it that much "more difficult to lose weight." Fried foods integrate an excessive amount of saturated fat and calories, Richards warns, that are "simply unnecessary and can be avoided." Mozzarella sticks are not worth the damage they do to your body over time.
Onion rings
And, if your favorite fried food isn't french fries or mozzarella sticks, you're probably likely to order onion rings–which are an equally poor nutritional choice. Brockmiller says that onion rings are just as bad for you as a side of fries. Onion rings are on average 400 calories, 22 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, and 726 milligrams of sodium. And, even worse, Outback Steakhouse's Bloomin' Onion, packs 1,953 calories, 161 grams of fat, and 3,700 milligrams of sodium. Just thinking about it should fill you with kale cravings. Bloomin' Onions usually consist of one large onion, cut to resemble a flower, battered, and deep-fried, often served with dipping sauce. The dipping sauce usually contains mayonnaise, ketchup, and horseradish.
CNBC reports, "One study including 18,080 people found that a diet high in fried foods was linked to lower scores in learning and memory. The likely reason: These guilty pleasures cause inflammation, which can damage the blood vessels that supply the brain with blood."
"Not only are [onion rings] high in calories and low in satiety," Brockmiller explains. "but they are also loaded with sodium. Sodium can increase bloating and water retention which can limit weight loss."
Bottom line
Instead of french fries, mozzarella sticks, and onion rings, you are better off eating food that is not fried with inflammatory oils. Instead opt for unprocessed foods like whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, fruits, and vegetables. These foods are anti-inflammatory, not harmful to our metabolism, high in fiber, and great for weight loss.
But, if you are still craving a crispy snack without ruining your body, we recommend cooking up your own version of French fries, mozzarella sticks, and onion rings at home. "Bake your own potatoes and make them crispy. Air fryers can also be considered to lessen fat intake. It may be even better than fast-food French fries," Gervacio says. Just using an air fryer, healthier oil (like avocado oil or extra virgin olive oil), and whole wheat breadcrumbs can make a massive difference in inflammation in the stomach.
