5. Limit fried foods to lower heart attack risk
Do you know that if you fry your food the calories of your meal will more than double?
Fried foods are loaded with saturated and trans fats and are extremely calorie dense – in other words they are bad for your health. Eating them regularly causes weight gain, raises your blood pressure and increases your chance of developing cardiovascular disease.
One study published in the British Medical Journal showed there was a link between the regular consumption of fried foods and an increase in all-cause mortality. Older people are more at risk of developing heart disease, cancer and diabetes and as fried food increases this risk even further – by your fifth decade, you should limit the amount you eat.
It’s okay to occasionally enjoy fried meals, as having the odd portion of chips won’t significantly impact your health. Just don’t make it a regular habit, or try another way to “fry” food by using an air fryer, or by oven frying. Doing it this way will give similar results but reduces the amount of unhealthy fat you consume. This is because when you traditionally fry, the temperature of the oil creates high quantities of trans fat.
When you really do want to enjoy a fried meal, you can – but it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try to make it healthier. If you absolutely have to fry, then at least make sure you use an oil with plenty of health benefits, such as olive, coconut, or avocado.
