French Fries: The Comfort Food That can Sizzle Anxiety

Highlights:

Regular consumption of fried foods, such as French fries, is linked to a higher incidence of anxiety-related difficulties and depression
Young men and younger individuals who frequently consume fried foods are particularly at risk
The link between fried meals and mental health issues is still uncertain, and it is unclear whether people with mental health issues seek out fried foods or whether fried meals cause mental health problems

French fries are one of those comfort foods that never disappoint. Just biting into the crispy, thinly sliced potatoes drenched in tomato sauce while binge-watching Netflix is an emotional experience. What begins as an innocuous fry can often turn into not one, but two plates of fries. Here's where all French fry fans should be cautious: according to a new study, your favorite snack may promote despair and anxiety.

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‘French fries, which have been a comfort food for many generations, are seldom considered healthy. But did you realize it can also be harmful to your mental health and lead to anxiety and depression?’

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Can Fries Make Everything Better or Worse?

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 discovered a 7% higher incidence of depression in people who did not consume fried meals. The relationship was particularly significant among young men and younger fried food users.

The study's findings were published in PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America) ().

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Fried Meal and Sadness- an Undefined Link

The findings "open an avenue for the significance of reducing fried food consumption for mental health," according to the study. However, there is one critical caveat in the findings.

According to experts quoted in the media, because the research results are preliminary, it is unclear if fried meals cause mental health concerns or whether people with mental health issues seek out fried foods.

That is, the Catch-22 issue can be viewed as follows: Are you drawn to fried foods because you are worried or sad, or do the foods themselves create anxiety or depression?

This is because people who suffer from anxiety and sadness frequently turn to comfort foods. Over the course of 11.3 years, 140,728 people were examined. After removing people who had been diagnosed with depression within the previous two years, researchers discovered 8,294 incidences of anxiety and 12,735 cases of depression in those who ate fried food.

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Bitter Truth About the Fry Temptation

The study also discovered that participants who had more than one serving of fried food on a regular basis were more likely to be young people, particularly young guys.

Previously, a study named 'Food and mood: how can food and nutrition affect mental well-being' discovered that inadequate nutrition can worsen a mental health condition by depressing mood. The latest study adds to a growing body of evidence linking bad eating to mental health problems.

Reference:

High fried food consumption impacts anxiety and depression due to lipid metabolism disturbance and neuroinflammation - (https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2221097120)

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