They’re delicious and tempting, salty and scrumptious — but also one of the worst foods you can over-indulge in, especially if you’re trying to lose weight or adopt a more healthy lifestyle. We’re talking French fries, the only food capable of taking a simple, bland potato, throwing it into a deep fryer, and turning it into the junk food superstar that’s a staple in most fast food meals.
How bad are French fries? Well, the occasional fun snack won’t hurt you, but if you’re incorporating this food into your meals several times a week, here are 11 really good reasons why you trade that fry for a baked potato or sweet potato pronto. Ready? This is going to be painful, but here goes:
1) A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that eating fried potatoes like French fries and hash browns more than twice a week can increase your mortality risk twofold.
2) There are several theories as to why French fries are so bad on your body, but one is that the trans fats and sodium found in this food increase your risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes.
3) Overcooking and frying your potatoes can release a chemical called Acrylamide, which is linked to cancer risks in animals. The FDA even issued a warning against overcooking foods and consuming this chemical.
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Why French Fries Are Terrible For You
4) The saturated fat in French fries raises levels of “bad” cholesterol, which can form clots that attach to the walls of your arteries and prevent every part of your body from receiving blood. In time, this buildup can lead to stroke and heart attacks.
5) A plain potato contains carbohydrates that can cause your insulin to spike, which makes you more prone to diseases like diabetes and heart disease. Eating a potato once in a while is healthy, but snacking on French fries a few times a week provides little more than fast-burning energy that is more likely to be stored as fat in your body.
6) Many fast food French fries are super bad for anyone who has gluten intolerance, celiac disease, and even milk allergies. The reason for this is because the vegetable oil used to deep fry these potatoes often contains wheat and, yes, even dairy.
The Worst Things About French Fries
7) If you’re pregnant or nursing, the dextrose corn sugar found in many fast food French fries is no-no. This ingredient has been linked to spikes in blood sugar and lower levels of fat absorption and is also incredibly bad for anyone with liver issues.
8) Hold that thought because all of that dextrose is just added sugar that can contribute to faster weight gain. So, while you may be skipping dessert, eating French fries can actually be worse for you weight loss goals.
9) Another reason anyone who is pregnant (or anyone, really) should stay away from French fries? They can contain the GMO hydrogenated soybean oil, which has phytoestrogens that can wreak havoc on your hormones.
In Conclusion: The Fewer French Fries On Your Plate, The Better
10) French fries, particularly those served at fast food places, are often packed with sodium acid pyrophosphate, which can lead to more phosphorus in the blood. And the reason why that's so dangerous, especially for women, is because those higher levels can contribute to bone loss and osteoporosis.
11) Those unhealthy fats in French fries aren't just contributing to clogged arteries — on a less serious (but still concerning) note, they are clog your pores and cause acne breakouts.
if you want to be healthier, lose weight, and keep your skin clear, French fries are one of the first foods you should banish from your diet. Replace them with baked and seasoned antioxidant-rich purple potatoes or sweet potatoes and you'll satisfy your potato craving without hurting your body.