Most of us know that a diet rich in fried foods is bad for us. A review of studies determines how bad it can be.
In a meta-analysis of 19 studies that included diet and health data on more than 1.2 million men and women from around the world, Chinese researchers calculated the effect of eating potatoes, fried fish, fried snacks and other fried foods on cardiovascular health.
By comparing the groups with the highest intake of fried foods with people who ate the least during an average period of nine years, they found that the high consumption of fried foods increased the relative risk of heart disease by 22 percent; for stroke by 37 percent; for heart failure by 37 percent; for death from cardiovascular disease by 2 percent; and for death due to any cause by 3 per cent.
The analysis in the journal Heart found no evidence that one type of fried food was better than another. Using the combined data, the researchers calculated that each additional weekly serving of 114 grams (fried food) fried food increases the risk of heart failure by 12 percent and for a serious cardiovascular event by 3 percent.
The dietary guidelines for Americans discourage the consumption of fried foods, but they do not offer any specific restrictions on amounts in a healthy diet.
The senior author, Dr. Fulan Hu of the Shenzhen University Health Science Center in Shenzhen, China, offered this advice: “Reduce restaurant meals. Reduce fast food intake. Use healthier cooking methods, cooking, baking or frying cooking methods instead of frying for homemade food. ”