Eating French fries increases risk of anxiety disorder by 12% and depression by 7%
There is also a counterargument that “the relationship is not clear”
A research team from a university in China has found that eating french fries increases the likelihood of developing mental illness such as depression.
According to CNN on the 24th (local time), a research team from Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China published a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) of the United States, saying, “Frequently consuming fried foods increases the risk of depression by 7% compared to those who do not eat them.” published a thesis.
According to the research team, the risk of feeling an anxiety disorder increased by 12% by consuming french fries, and the risk of depression was 2% higher when french fries were consumed than meat fries.
The research team was able to obtain this result as a result of observing 140,728 people over the past 11 years. The research team said, “(Research results) show that reducing fried food intake is important for mental health,” and “younger men eat more fried food more often.”
The broadcast mentioned another study that revealed that ‘acrylamide’, a chemical produced during the process of frying potatoes, affects anxiety and depression. Acrylamide is a component classified as a probable carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and is known to be formed when foods high in carbohydrates are cooked at high temperatures.
The study explained by citing an experiment that showed that when tropical fish were exposed to acrylamide for a long time, their social skills decreased and their anxiety level increased, such as staying in a dark place.
However, some argued that the results of this study were limited. It is not clear whether people with mental illness seek out fried food more, or whether fried food negatively affects the health of the whole body.
Some experts argued that this correlation appeared, citing research results that found that people with anxiety or depression were more likely to seek out ‘comfort food’ than the general population.
Dr. David Katz, founder of the nonprofit True Health Initiative, said, “People suffering from anxiety or depression more often seek out comforting foods to relieve their condition,” adding, “Thus, the causal pathway may go in the opposite direction.” pointed out.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.