1. The Two Pitfalls of French Fries: Oil and Ketchup
While potatoes themselves are starchy vegetables high in carbohydrates, how they are cooked can dramatically change their impact on health and blood sugar. French fries represent one of the worst cooking methods that people with diabetes should avoid.
2. The Problem with Deep-Frying
– High Calories and Fat: Potatoes absorb oil well. Frying them in oil significantly increases their calorie count and their content of unhealthy saturated and trans fats. This is not only detrimental to weight management but can also worsen insulin resistance in the long term.
– Delayed Hyperglycemia: The combination of ‘carbohydrates + fat’ slows down digestion and absorption, which can cause an unpredictable ‘delayed hyperglycemia’ 3-4 hours after eating, making blood sugar management more difficult.
3. The Problem with Ketchup
It’s easy to mistake ketchup for a healthy sauce because it’s made from tomatoes, but most commercial ketchups contain a significant amount of sugar or high-fructose corn syrup for sweetness. Dipping french fries generously in ketchup is like adding sugar to your fried carbohydrates.
4. Conclusion
French fries are completely different from the healthy image of a ‘vegetable.’ They are a ‘high-calorie, high-fat, high-carb, high-sugar’ food. This is a combination that has the worst possible impact on blood sugar, weight, and blood pressure, and must be avoided by people with diabetes. If you want to eat potatoes, the best way is to steam or boil them and let them cool.
Summary: French fries, due to being deep-fried and paired with sugary ketchup, are a representative high-calorie, high-glycemic food, far from being a healthy snack.
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