Doctors warned about the dangers of french fries and named a healthy alternative

French fry lovers risk their health: new research reveals alarming link to diabetes. Just three servings of the popular side dish per week increase the risk of disease by 20%, and five servings – by a whole 27%.

The shocking results of a large-scale study were published in the prestigious medical journal The BMJ, as reported by The Independent. An international team of scientists, including specialists from Cambridge University, analyzed health data from more than 205 thousand American healthcare workers. Observations of participants were conducted over nearly four decades, making the conclusions particularly convincing.

The key discovery of the study – the method of potato preparation plays a decisive role. Surprisingly, consuming the same amount of boiled, baked potatoes or mashed potatoes showed no connection with an increased risk of diabetes. Experts explain this by the fact that french fries belong to the category of ultra-processed foods, unlike other, minimally processed forms of preparation.

The scientists didn't stop at alarming conclusions and offered a practical solution to the problem. Replacing three weekly servings of potatoes, especially fried ones, with whole grain products can reduce the risk of developing diabetes by 8%. At the same time, researchers warn: replacing potatoes with white rice may, on the contrary, increase the risk of disease. Thus, specialists emphasize the exceptional importance of whole grain products as the foundation of a healthy diet.