French Fries May Have Negative Impact on Mental Health Despite Being a Comfort Food for Many
French fries and other fried foods are a popular comfort food for many, but reaching for fried foods may have a negative impact on mental health. A research team in Hangzhou, China conducted a study that revealed a 12% higher risk of anxiety and 7% higher risk of depression among individuals who frequently consume fried foods, particularly fried potatoes, compared to those who do not eat fried foods. The link between fried foods and poor mental health was more prominent among young men and younger consumers.
Fried foods are widely known to be risk factors for obesity, high blood pressure, and other health issues. These results suggest that reducing fried food consumption may be an important step towards improving mental health. The paper was published on Monday in the journal PNAS.
However, nutrition experts caution that the results are still preliminary and it’s not entirely clear whether the consumption of fried foods causes mental health issues or whether people experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety turn to fried foods. The researchers also note that the study was observational and did not establish a cause-and-effect relationship between fried foods and mental health.
Despite these limitations, the study’s results provide valuable insight into the relationship between diet and mental health. According to the researchers, these results “open an avenue in the significance of reducing fried food consumption for mental health.” Further research is needed to better understand the relationship between diet and mental health and to determine whether reducing fried food consumption can have a positive impact on mental health.
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