FROM FOX NEWS: All potatoes are not created equally, a massive new study has found – especially when it comes to the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D).
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.
While potatoes contain nutrients such as fiber, vitamin C and potassium, recent research has cautioned that their high glycemic index, which causes blood sugar spikes, and the various ways they’re cooked could have negative health impacts.
The latest findings confirm that the link between high potato consumption and increased T2D risk is primarily driven by french fries.
“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, one of the study’s lead authors.
When foods are deep-frying potatoes in hot oil, nutrients are stripped away and chemical process is triggered called the Maillard reaction. While it creates that crispy, browned texture we love, it can also produce harmful byproducts.
“For policymakers, our findings highlight the need to move beyond broad food categories and pay closer attention to how foods are prepared and what they’re replacing,” said study author Walter Willett. “Not all carbs – or even all potatoes – are created equal, and that distinction is crucial when it comes to shaping effective dietary guidelines.”
Potatoes USA, America’s “official potato marketing and research organization,” according to their website, countered, saying the serving sizes used in the study were twice the size consumed by the average American.
“We shouldn’t judge foods in isolation because that’s not how people eat in the real world,” they told Fox News Digital. “Like many foods, fries can absolutely be part of a healthy eating pattern when enjoyed in moderation. 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.”
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