Eating more than three servings of French fries a week increases the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Eating French fries frequently could significantly increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes; however, eating other forms of this common food, such as boiled, baked, or mashed,

Specifically, according to a study published in the journal ' BMJ ,' problems arise when people eat more than three servings of French fries per week. According to this study conducted at the Harvard School of Public Health , eating three or more servings per week was associated with a 20% higher risk of developing diabetes.

Although potatoes contain beneficial nutrients (such as vitamin C and fiber), they also contain a high starch content and a high glycemic index, which can affect blood sugar levels. But the problem isn't the potato itself, but rather how it's prepared and what it's paired with.

"The cooking method matters, but what foods you replace the potatoes with also matters," says Seyed Mohammad Mousavi, lead author of the study.

Until now, many of these studies did not differentiate between preparation methods or consider the foods consumed in place of potatoes.

To address this gap, researchers analyzed the eating habits of more than 205,000 people for nearly 40 years. During that period, 22,299 people were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Even when controlling for factors such as lifestyle and other aspects of diet, the findings remained consistent: more potato chips, higher risk. More whole grains, lower risk.

Researchers propose replacing potato chips with whole grains can be a great decision for your health. Thus, switching to whole grains would reduce the risk of diabetes by 19%, and replacing them with whole grains would reduce the risk by 4%.

Researchers analyzed the eating habits of more than 205,000 people for nearly 40 years . All were health professionals who reported their diet every four years. In total, 22,299 developed type 2 diabetes during the follow-up.

The team also conducted a meta-analysis using data from previous cohorts, including more than 500,000 participants from four continents , which reinforced the robustness of the results.

Although this is an observational study, and therefore cannot establish a definitive causal relationship, the authors emphasize that the findings support current recommendations to prioritize whole grains within a healthy diet.

Experts agree that potatoes can be part of a healthy diet if cooked properly. Baked, boiled, or mashed versions don't pose the same risks as fried ones. Furthermore, their environmental impact is low, making them a sustainable option.