French fries are definitely a favorite snack for everyone. But is it a healthy snack? The answer is unfortunately no.
To make French fries you need a large amount of oil which is cooked at very high temperatures. This may result in the creation of substances that are known as “trans” fats (see related post on fats). These fats increase bad cholesterol (LDL) and decrease good (HDL) cholesterol levels, making them extremely harmful to our heart and body.
Also, commercially circulating fries are produced using oils that are of poor quality, such as various seed oils. These oils are often used multiple times, resulting in even more trans fats.
What can we do?
We can avoid the frequent consumption and prefer homemade French fries which are made with olive oil. Olive oil withstands high temperatures, is of better quality and is definitely used only once at home.
We can choose other ways of preparation:
We can cut the potatoes in the shape of French fries and bake them in the oven, after sprinkling them with a little oil and salt. They become wonderful! There are also appliances that make steamed potatoes. These taste just like fried ones and absolutely healthy!
Source: “The Body Book”, Cameron Diaz και Sandra Bar