Potatoes- whenever the name appears on our mind, we simply can’t hold it back. If someone bring us a plate of hot potato fries, who would want to decline, especially when the option is available to us 24/7?
Well, be cautions, it’s a potato alert!
If you think your potato habit has nothing to do with your health, you’re mistaken then.
As a new study finds that our daily chip habit increases type 2 diabetes by 20 percent. It’s certainly become a Potato alert now!
Here's a quick recap and tips to avoid type 2 diabetes. Let's dive in:
Researchers at the University of Cambridge, along with an international team, explored the connecting dots between eating potatoes and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Specifically, they discovered a 20 percent higher risk of individuals consuming French fries at least three times weekly, whereas baked, boiled, or mashed potatoes didn’t show a similar linkage.
Dr. Faye Riley, from Diabetes U.K., noted, "This research shows the link between potatoes and type 2 diabetes isn’t a straightforward as it might seem."
Researchers analysed data from over 2,05,000 U.S. medial workers, tracking their diets over nearly four decades through repeated surveys, and documented 22,000 cases of type 2 diabetes.
Academics analysed data from studies tracking the health of more than 2.05,000 medical workers in the U.S..
The study authors noted in The British Medical Journal that the link between high potato consumption and increased type 2 diabetes risk is largely due to French fries' intake.
“Higher intake of French fries, but not combined baked, boiled or mashed potatoes, was associated with higher risk of type 2 diabetes,” the study finds.
The research team also found replacing three servings of potatoes each week with whole grains was found to lower the risk of type 2 diabetes by 8 %.
They added replacing potatoes with white rice, however, was also associated with an increased risk.
According to Dr. Riley, research communications lead at Diabetes UK, “Type 2 diabetes is complex, influenced by multiple factors like genetics, age, and ethnicity.
Diet is just one part of the picture, but this study suggests that how food is prepared can make a difference and reinforces the advice to prioritise whole grains and cut back on fried or heavily processed foods as a way to support a balanced diet and reduce your risk.
The researchers emphasized that their findings were observational, showing an association but not proving a direct cause-and-effect link between chip consumption and type 2 diabetes risk.
Potatoes contain various nutrients such as fiber, vitamin C, potassium, polyphenols, and magnesium, previous research has raised caution about their effects on health.
