How are potato chips harmful to your health?

The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified processed meats such as bacon, sausage, ham, and others as group 1 carcinogens, equivalent to the danger of asbestos. and tobacco. However, according to nutritionist Dr. Eric Berg, potato chips may be more harmful due to the presence of advanced glycation end products, trans fats, glyphosate, and other unknown side effects. know.

Specifically, potato chips contain starch and fat that are cooked at high temperatures. The end product of this process is advanced glycation (AGEs).

Once in the body, the compound becomes sticky, blocking all tissue cells in the eyes, brain, heart and kidneys, making these tissues unable to function normally. AGEs create oxidative stress, causing inflammation, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

The next ingredient in potato chips is hydrogenated oil, or trans fat, which hardens the arteries. Many previous reports showed that this substance causes cancer, creating many damages inside the body.

Seed oils such as corn, canola, cottonseed, soybean, peanut or sunflower oil, commonly used in fried foods today are also harmful to the body. They promote oxidation when used at high temperatures, causing inflammation.

The process of heating potato chips creates a neurotoxin called acrylamide. This substance appears when deep-frying some vegetables. Acrylamide is also used in the production of some paper and plastic products, and has the potential to cause cancer and Alzheimer's disease because it affects nerve cells.

French fries also contain a lot of sugar, not in the form of regular table sugar but dextrose, causing blood sugar levels to increase faster. Table sugar has a glycemic index of 65, while dextrose has a glycemic index of 100.

A plate of fries.  Photo: Pexel

A plate of fries. Photo: Pexel

High glycemic index foods can increase blood sugar levels, causing the body to produce more insulin, increasing the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

The other type of sugar in potato chips is maltodextrin. According to the US Food and Drug Administration, similar to dextrose, this substance increases insulin levels, causing many complications.

Glyphosate in potato chips can seriously affect the digestive system. This is an ingredient in a herbicide sprayed on oats, lentils, potatoes, sugar beets and corn. Studies show that glyphosate is safe for humans, has the ability to kill some bacteria, and should be classified as an antibiotic. However, more and more evidence shows that this substance is harmful.

Besides the physical effects, a research team in Hangzhou, China, discovered that people who regularly eat fried foods, especially French fries, are 12 times more likely to have anxiety and have a higher risk of depression. 7 times more than those who consume less. The link between potato chips and depression is more evident in young people, especially men. This work was published in the journal PNAS on April 24.

Source : (According to CNN , Epoch )