FRENCH FRIES MAY DRIVE DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, NEW RESEARCH SUGGESTS

Wed 26 Apr 2023:

French fries, which have been a comfort food for many generations, are rarely regarded as healthful. But did you realize it can also be harmful to your mental health?

According to Chinese research, regular intake of fried foods, particularly fried potatoes, is associated with a significant risk of sadness and even a higher risk of anxiety.

People who regularly consume fried foods such as French fries were 13% more likely to have anxiety-related difficulties than those who did not consume such foods. In terms of depression, the researchers found 7 per cent higher risk of depression than in people who did not eat fried foods.

The findings of the research were published in the journal PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America).

The link was more pronounced among young men and younger consumers of fried food products.

Fried foods linked with depression: What does it mean?

The results “open an avenue in the significance of reducing fried food consumption for mental health,” according to the research.

But there remains a crucial caveat in the findings.

Experts cited in the media say that since the results of the research are preliminary, it is yet to be made clear whether fried foods drive mental health issues or people with mental health issues turn to fried food items. That is, the Catch-22 situation can be understood as: Are you driven to fried food items because you are anxious or depressed, or do the fried food items drive anxiety or depression in the first place?

This is because people with underlying symptoms of anxiety and depression often turn to comfort foods.

The study evaluated 140,728 people over a period of more than 11.3 years.

After excluding participants diagnosed with depression within the first two years, a total of 8,294 cases of anxiety and 12,735 cases of depression were found in those that consumed fried food.

The study had also found that the participants consuming more than one serving of fried food regularly were more likely to be youngsters, specifically the young men.

Earlier, a study, titled: ‘Food and mood: how do diet and nutrition affect mental wellbeing’ had found that poor nutrition can progress a mental health condition by lowering one’s mood. The latest study adds to a growing evidence of unhealthy food’s links to mental health conditions.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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