Although they are among the most popular foods, fried foods have been linked to serious health problemssuch as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Fried foods - whose quality is altered, producing a increase in its caloric content compared to its natural state- are behind several key risk factors for the development of these diseases, such as obesity, hypertension and high cholesterol.
High in fat, calories and often salt, we must also add that in fast food restaurants they are usually cooked in hydrogenated oils. Although they increase their flavor and crunchiness, they are not good for your health. These trans fats increase levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) and lower levels of good cholesterol (HDL), which increases the risk of developing heart disease.
If reused, something restaurants often do, hydrogenated oil becomes especially harmful. As they break down with each frying, their composition changes, causing foods to absorb more oil. These changes increase the risk of both high cholesterol and hypertension.
Fried foods are not a healthy food option, since they provide many calories and offer hardly any nutrients that the body needs. However, in the form of a weekly reward, a handful of potato chips or other type of frying, it should not pose any risk to healthy people. It is regular consumption that can cause problems.
The safest way to consume ferments is to prepare them yourself at home. Only in this way can we control the type of oil that is used. Bet on olive oil, which is rich in omega 3 fatty acids, do not reuse it and use paper napkins to absorb excess oil. If you want to reduce acrylamide levels (a compound that in animal studies has been linked to the development of cancer) don't let them brown too much. Another trick is to keep potatoes at room temperature, as they produce more sugar in the refrigerator, which in turn creates more acrylamide.
Finally, you can also use oil-free fryers with which you can enjoy fried foods with much less oil since their secret is that they work like an oven, so the food is actually cooked instead of fried. They are equally crunchy but we lose the typical flavor of traditional frying.