Written by Patrick Massey, M.D., Ph.D. The oils in fried foods are believed to increase overall inflammation in the body, an important step for the development of heart disease.
Could eating an extra large bag of potato chips increase your risk of heart disease? Recent research has shown that a diet of fried potato chips increases blood markers of inflammation and suggests an increased risk of heart disease.
One of the unfortunate side effects of cooking certain starchy foods – like potato chips, french fries and even, to some extent, breads, cookies and pastries – is the production of a compound called acrylamide. Acrylamide is actually used in industry for making dyes, treating wastewater and in a number of common, everyday products, but cooking starchy food also produces acrylamide.
Acrylamide in the diet is loosely associated with an increased risk of some cancers. However, research in this area is far from conclusive. Now acrylamide may be associated with increased inflammation.
We know that a diet that is rich in fried foods increases the risk of heart disease. The oils in fried foods are believed to increase overall inflammation in the body. Inflammation is an important step for the development of heart disease. According to a recent study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, acrylamide may also increase inflammation and the risk for heart disease.
For the study, 14 people ate about five regular bags of potato chips per day for a month. This amount of chips contained 157 mg of acrylamide per day (about twice the daily limit recommended for a grown man by the World Health Organization). At this level of dietary acrylamide, there was a significant increase in a number of blood markers of inflammation, including oxidization of “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and an increase in free radical production by white blood cells.
The amount of acrylamide in a regular bag of potato chips easily falls within the daily limit for children and adults and, other than the calories, may not be a problem. However, daily robust potato chip consumption, over time, may promote an inflammatory state and the risk of heart disease.
Given how many foods we commonly eat that may contribute to inflammation and ultimately to many chronic diseases, anything we can do to reduce inflammation is good. It is said that the Greek philosopher, Aristotle, advised moderation in all things. That applies to potato chips also.
Reference:
Am J Clin Nutr, 2009; 89(3): 773-777.
Posted April 6, 2009.
