Study links eating French fries to mental illness; understand 1

Study links eating French fries to mental illness; understand

Cuisine is extremely diverse across different cultures and regions of the world. Over the years, eating habits have changed, especially with the creation of fast foods and other quick and easy-to-eat foods.

One of the most common foods, which can be used in almost every form of cooking, is the potato. The most common way to prepare this tuber is by frying it, that is, the potato slices are bathed in hot oil and then seasoned with salt or other seasonings.

Although the vegetable brings several health benefits, the consumption of French fries can bring more harm than good, going far beyond the caloric index.

Study links French fries to psychological illnesses

This easy-to-grow and extremely popular food on the planet, consumed by hundreds of millions of people every day, may be delicious, but it can also cause problems that may not be worth its taste.

A recent study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) and carried out by researchers from Hangzhou, China, revealed that the consumption of fried foods, especially French fries, is related to the diagnosis of anxiety and depression.

The study evaluated 140,728 individuals for almost 12 years. Among people who consumed fried foods, 12,735 cases of depression and 8,294 cases of anxiety were recorded, with a 2% increased risk of depression for those who consumed fried potatoes compared to those who consumed fried white meat.

Reasons and conclusions

Study links eating French fries to brain diseases
Photo: Kmpzzz/Shutterstock

Scientists claim that high exposure to a contaminant from the frying process, acrylamide, alters the brain’s lipid metabolism and causes neuroinflammation.

However, the research team warns that there is no proven cause-and-effect relationship between the consumption of French fries and the development of these diseases.

There are two possible paths: either the consumption of fried foods really increases the risk of associated diseases, or the ingestion of the food is related to the relief and feeling of comfort that people with depression and anxiety seek.

Therefore, further research is still needed in this area to prove the effects of this food.

In relation :  Study reveals effects of intermittent fasting on the brain and intestine