Whether you’re looking for a quick meal on the way home from work, can’t work up the effort to make your own nutritious dinner, or just want to indulge in a greasy vice, there are many reasons you may find yourself pulling up to the drive-through window of a fast food restaurant. And while we certainly can’t blame you for opting for fast food every now and then, there are certain health risks to keep in mind when you’re choosing your meal—especially when it comes to French fries.
Few foods are as deviously delicious as a salty, greasy side of fast food fries. But while whole potatoes do offer their fair share of health benefits, the short-lived satisfaction of this crispy snack may not be worth the risks at hand. To learn more, we spoke to Dr. Daniel Boyer of the Farr Institute. He says eating fast food French fries can increase the risk of developing cardiovascular conditions, weight gain, and more. Uh-oh!
How French fries lead to increased risk of heart disease and weight gain
It's one thing to make your own fries at home, where you have control over the ingredients and the way they're cooked. For example, slicing up potatoes and throwing them into an air fryer can be a health-conscious way to get your fry fix. But pulling up to the McDonald's drive-through and ordering a large side of fries on a regular basis can have serious health consequences, including heart disease and weight gain. This is largely thanks to the oil in which they're deep-fried. "They are deep-fried in unhealthy fats," Dr. Boyer explains. Vegetable oils can lead to a number of health complications, and weight gain is just one of them.
Plus, since this snack is so salty, you may have never considered that there are oftentimes added sugars involved, which makes for an insanely high calorie count. In fact, McDonald's fries are literally coated in a sugar called dextrose. That's part of the reason they're so addictingly tasty—not to mention fattening. It's no secret that sugar can have serious consequences on your health.
"These foods are high in calories due to the added sugars included when they are processed," Dr. Boyer notes. "Regularly consuming foods high in calories may enhance weight gain and make losing weight very difficult."
In the long run, regular consumption of fast food fries could even develop into obesity. "Excess calorie intake may lead to obesity, a risk factor for several health conditions. Additionally, sugary foods increase blood sugar levels, a health risk leading to other health conditions." Possible complications include cardiovascular disease, kidney damage, and more.
Inflammation, which is also associated with weight gain, is another major factor at hand when it comes to fast food French fires. That's thanks to their low nutritional value, Dr. Boyer says.
Possible mental health risks of French fries
It's also worth noting that French fries have recently been linked to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.
"This is because fried foods are inflammatory due to the oxidation of the processed oils caused by the oils reaching high temperatures," dietitian Heidi Moretti says. "These oils are often used repeatedly in restaurants, which further increases the breakdown of these fats and further damages the body due to inflammation and free radicals. In turn, this inflammation sends threat signals to the brain and ultimately alters mood." Yikes!
Eat your potatoes whole instead
If you're a potato-lover, you don't have to quit cold turkey. In fact, we're not even saying you can never order a side of McDonald's French fries again; it's just best for your health if you don't indulge in them on a regular basis.
When a craving hits and you want to go a more health-conscious route, Dr. Boyer recommends sticking to a more natural option and cooking up some potatoes yourself. "Potatoes are best taken as whole because they are healthy and filling," he explains.
Plus, cooking your own potatoes will cost you way less calories than their fried counterparts. "Eating whole potatoes reduces excess calorie intake, a significant contributor to weight gain." We like the sound of that!
So next time you get the idea to chow down on some salty fries from your favorite fast food restaurant, ask yourself if there's a healthier option you can choose—you could be saving yourself a lot of health complications!
