In an ideal world, indulging in a each day portion of French fries as an alternative of almonds can be a straightforward alternative, and selecting the salty, deep-fried option would haven't any negative consequences.
“We've learned from many studies over the past two decades that weight loss studies lasting less than a year are likely to give misleading results, so those lasting only 30 days,” says Dr. Willett. Living study is lower than worthless.” “For example, studies lasting six months or less show that a low-fat diet reduces body weight, but studies lasting a year or longer show the opposite. “
What health aspects did the study measure?
gave the study I used to be published. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Researchers randomly divided a gaggle of 165 adults (average age 30; 68% female) into three groups for 30 days and assigned them to eat certainly one of the next 300-calorie portions per day:
- Almonds, roasted and salted (about 1/3 cup)
- Plain French Fries (Medium Serving)
- French fries seasoned with herbs and spices (medium serving).
The researchers provided participants with 30 one-day portions of their food, asking them to incorporate it of their each day weight loss program but not to vary food or activity levels to fulfill the 300-calorie intake. Do not give any additional instructions.
Participants' body fat was measured initially and end of the month, together with total weight, blood sugar, insulin, and hemoglobin A1C (a long-term reflection of blood sugar levels). Five participants in each group also underwent postprandial testing to evaluate short-term blood sugar responses.
Weight just isn't the one think about health.
After 30 days, changes in body fat content and total body weight were similar within the French fry and almond groups. Similarly, glucose and insulin levels were measured through blood tests after fasting.
However, one vital difference emerged: Participants within the French fry subgroup had higher blood glucose and insulin levels immediately after eating the fries than those that ate almonds.
It's tempting to conclude that there isn't much difference between fries and almonds—it's the calories that count. But a better read reinforces the concept two items typically placed on opposite ends of the healthy food spectrum are still greater than the study's findings would have us imagine.
“One clear result was that consumption of French fries significantly increased blood glucose and insulin secretion compared to almonds,” says Dr. Willett. “This is consistent with long-term studies showing that potato consumption is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, especially when compared to whole grains.”