FILE – French fries (Photo Illustration by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
Researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that eating just three servings of french fries per week was associated with a 20% higher risk of developing T2D. Baked, boiled or mashed potatoes, however, were not linked to an increased risk.
“We’re shifting the conversation from, ‘Are potatoes good or bad?’ to a more nuanced – and useful – question: How are they prepared and what might we eat instead?” said Seyed Mohammad Mousavi, a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Nutrition and one of the study’s lead authors, in a news release.
The association between potatoes – the third most commonly consumed food crop in the U.S. – and health outcomes, particularly T2D, has been the subject of growing debate, the researchers wrote.
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Deep-frying potatoes in hot oil not only strips away nutrients but also triggers the Maillard reaction, the chemical process that gives fries and seared meats their crispy, browned texture and savory flavor — yet it can also produce harmful byproducts.
Replacing fries with whole grains lowered the risk by 19%, the study found. Even choosing whole grains over healthier potato options reduced the risk by 8%.
“The public health message here is simple and powerful,” said study author Walter Willett, professor of epidemiology and nutrition, in the release.
More than 38 million Americans have diabetes – about 1 in 10 – and most have type 2, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The trend has been consistently rising over the past two decades.
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The team also suggested future research into how cooking potatoes with butter or cream, or different frying oils, may influence health outcomes, as well as comparisons with sweet potatoes, which have different nutrient profiles.
“We shouldn’t judge foods in isolation because that’s not how people eat in the real world,” the organization told Fox News Digital in a statement.
“With 90% of Americans falling short on vegetable intake, there’s a clear need to help people enjoy more vegetables each day. Emerging research shows that when fried potatoes are mixed with other vegetables, total vegetable intake increases.”
