The Nutritional Debate: Are Fries Actually Healthy?

Fries are not known as a healthy food choice. But, as the eternal optimists say: there is always a potato hidden beneath that golden crust and that blob of mayonnaise. And potatoes are healthy. Although they become poisonous in the sun. Then fries can also be quite healthy, right?

When potato becomes fries, it falls outside the disk

Potato is neatly included in the Wheel of Five. It contains vitamins B and C, and minerals such as potassium and phosphorus. Fries can be found far outside the healthy slice. But it is made from potatoes, that’s hard to deny. How much of the healthy nutritional value is left?

More vitamins in fries

Believe it or not, some good substances are found more in fries than in boiled potatoes. For example, there is more potassium and vitamin C per ounce in fries than in the unfried version of the potato. The explanation for that miracle: potatoes contain quite a lot of water. This evaporates when frying, reducing its weight. The nutrients remain behind. So you get more of it per gram of potato in the form of fries. You would almost say that frying is healthy.

Water turns into fat

But alas, the good news show ends here. The water in the potato has been partly replaced by frying fat. This substitution trick increases the number of calories enormously. Fries contain four times as many calories per hundred grams as boiled potatoes. And boiled potatoes give you a feeling of fullness more quickly than fries. This makes it easy to eat (too) many fries.

Is a fries kapsalon healthier?

Fries have another disadvantage. You never eat a whole plate of potatoes without vegetables (unless you’re posing for a remake of a famous painting by Vincent van Gogh). We often see fries as a complete meal, which means you miss out on important nutrients from vegetables, for example. Except for the substances in the fries, because again: fries are not all bad.

How tenable is the claim?

Yes, fries are made from healthy potatoes. You also get the minerals and vitamins in fried form. But in terms of calories, you are better off with cooked spuds. And for the 41 percent of Dutch people who eat fries every week: don’t forget the vegetables.

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2024-02-07 07:22:31
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