French Fries Calories And Nutrition Comparison
For the purposes of this comparison, were going to talk about the size of a medium McDonalds French fry order, which contains 117 grams or about half a cup of potato.
Im not a huge fan of white potatoes to begin with , but I wanted you to see the differences between what you get eating fast food French fries, cooking a similar recipe at home and then one of my favorite options, sweet potato fries.
One medium order of McDonalds French fries contains about:
- 370 French fries calories
- 0.6 milligram vitamin B6
- 0.4 milligram;thiamine/Vitamin B1
- 655 milligrams potassium
- 70.2 micrograms folate
- 3.2 milligrams niacin
- 154 milligrams phosphorus
- 8.5 milligrams Vitamin C
- 0.3 milligram manganese
- 37.4 milligrams magnesium
- 0.8 milligram pantothenic acid
- 0.1 milligram copper
- 1 milligram iron
Some of this actually looks impressive, but when you consider the fact that these nutrients come from genetically modified sources and are laced with a large number of chemicals, the picture becomes clearer.
What does it look like to make about the same amount of French fries at home with coconut oil?
One serving of homemade white potato pan-fried French fries with one tablespoon of coconut oil contains about:;
- 193 French fries calories
Clearly, the third option is the most nutrient-dense. However, what makes them so much better is probably what they dont contain. Are there other, hidden reasons why most French fries are bad for you?
The 20 Worst Foods For High Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a strange thing: too much, and youre in a trouble, too little, and youre in just as much. With too little, our bodies cant function normally. With too much, we increase our risk of heart disease, stroke, blood clots, and a litany of other unmentionables. While low cholesterol isnt a concern for the vast majority of us, high cholesterol is. While the condition can sometimes be inherited , most of the time its down to lifestyle choices. Even if you exercise enough to look trim and healthy, you could still be in for a world of trouble if youre regularly filling your belly with less than optimal foods.
The real kick in the teeth is that high cholesterol is symptomless: unless you take a blood test to detect your levels, the first time most people realize they have the condition is when they fall ill as a result of it. Of course, regular testing is a great way of working out exactly whats going on in your body , but prevention is always better than cure.
Fortunately, a few tweaks to your lifestyle can slash your risk of developing the disease, keeping you trouble-free and healthy into a ripe old age. The first thing to understand is what factors increase the risk of bad cholesterol .
Is Trans Fat Still A Problem
Trans fat in fries and other processed foods became a big concern in the 1990s, as studies linked it to increased heart disease risk .
Fortunately, new FDA rules ban the use of partially hydrogenated oil the primary source of trans fat in the U.S. food supply as of June 2018, though some may remain in the food supply until January 2020 as inventories are depleted .
Therefore, you should no longer see partially hydrogenated oil in ingredient lists of fries, nor should you find any trans fat listed in their nutrition information.
However, its likely still wise to limit your intake of deep-fried foods, as two studies suggest that small amounts of trans fat may form when oil is repeatedly used in a deep fryer (
27 ).
These observational studies dont prove that French fries were what really contributed to weight gain or food addiction, but they do suggest that it may be wise to limit your intake.
Don’t Miss: Is Shrimp Bad For Your Liver
Could French Fries Actually Kill You
Maybe. At least, thats the implication of the study that triggered the latest news coverage. Researchers found that regular consumers of French fries dont live as long as those who eat them less often.
Of course, I immediately wondered: is it really the French fries? What else do big-time consumers of French fries do that might affect their longevity? Are they couch potatoes ? Do they drink too much? Im guessing their other food choices might not be the best. Maybe its the Big Macs, cheesecake, and smoking thats responsible more than the fries? So, lets take a closer look at the study.
Can French Fries Be Healthy Yes It’s Possible
Here’s how you can enjoy your favourite snack and keep bad cholesterol under control too.
“A healthy heart means a healthy life, yet most of us ignore our heart health.
“With two million heart attack cases in India in a year; it kills one Indian every 33 seconds.
“Though this is undeniably alarming, luckily, there are preventive measures to keep your heart healthy”, says Dr Bhaskar, Senior Consultant, Cardiologist, Healthians.
Building cholesterol is a major factor that is driving the growing cases of heart attacks.
It is a waxy substance that is found in fats in blood.
While our body needs cholesterol to build healthy cells, having high cholesterol can increase the risk of heart disease.
According to Dr Bhaskar, “Our eating habits can help us avoid high cholesterol issues. One should know what not to eat to avoid the many health related problems.”
Dr Bhaskar advises to keep a check on what you eat to stay away or control bad cholesterol.
Here are few vital tips to enjoy your favourite snacks while keeping bad cholesterol under control.
French fries
It is a deep fried snack which contains the unhealthiest fat, i.e. trans-fat, in combination with salt.
Due to the presence of hydrogenated vegetable oils in french fries, it is a big no for people living with bad cholesterol.
Tip: Replace deep frying with baking.
Egg yolks
A popular breakfast food, eggs have high cholesterol content.
So if you wish to continue eating your favorite breakfast, eat egg whites preferably.
Butter
Also Check: Egg Beaters Cholesterol
What Can You Cook In An Air Fryer
An air fryer can cook pretty much anything that you would normally fry in oil, such as:
- Chicken, including chicken fingers and nuggets
- Vegetables
- Pizza
- Doughnuts
Some models also have toast and bake settings, making them more like conventional ovens. You can use these to bake brownies or roast a chicken. One downside of many of these devices is their small basket size, which leaves little room to cook an entire family meal.
Mcdonald’s French Fries Nutrition Facts
McDONALD’S, french fries have milligrams of Cholesterol and 15.47 grams of fat.
100 grams of McDONALD’S, french fries contain 323 calories, the 16% of your total daily needs.
100 grams of McDONALD’S, french fries contain 42.58 grams of carbohydrates, 3.9 grams of fiber, 3.41 grams of protein, 189 milligrams of sodium, and 36.63 grams of water
It also contains some important vitamins you can see below: Vitamin K , Vitamin C or Vitamin B-3 .
Also Check: Is Calamari High In Protein
Foods Labeled ‘low Cholesterol’
When you’re shopping and you see an item that says it’s low in cholesterol, you still need to check the nutrition label. If it’s high in saturated fat, it can raise your LDL cholesterol. Also check the serving size. It might be smaller than you think, and if you eat too much, you’ll get more cholesterol than you realized.
French Fries Calories: 9 Reasons To Avoid This Fast Food Favorite
A staple in many American homes, the simple French fry is a tasty side dish that can help you to feel full. But have you ever looked at French fries calories and nutrition profile?
Whether or not French fries are good for you is a complex question. For example, if you want to know if ordering French fries in a fast food drive-thru is going to aid your health goals?;Obviously, that answer is no.
But are there certain French fries that can be a great add-on to a healthy meal? Absolutely!
Why do French fries calories and nutrition matter? Because nearly everyone in our country is eating them. In fact, there seems to be a trend between the ages of one and two for children to begin eating fast food items, especially French fries, according to their annual checkups.
If were feeding children still in diapers the French fries from the McDonalds kitchen, we should know how theyre made, whats in them and potential dangers they pose but its not all bad news. You can still enjoy French fries and know theyre part of a healthy diet.
How? Well, Ill get to that.
Don’t Miss: Is Mayo Bad For Cholesterol
Can Diabetics Eat Air Fried French Fries
Yes, a diabetic can eat air fried French fries. However, you must still keep the portion size in control. Air fryers like this one do not use oil. So, air fried French fries are more healthful in terms of oil. So, when you eat air fried French fries, your risk of cardiovascular disease may be lesser than deep fried French fries. However, the effect of French fries will still be the same on your blood sugar levels.
What Are The Worst Foods For High Cholesterol
Foods that are bad for your cholesterol levels include foods that are high in saturated and/or trans fats:
- Fatty cuts of red meat: This includes marbled steaks, pork, veal, and lamb.
- Processed meats: Examples include deli ham, salami, pastrami, bologna, sausage, bacon, and similar products.
You May Like: Cholesterol In Pork
French Fries Calories: Are There Benefits Of French Fries Nutrition
I mentioned earlier that I am not a fan of white potatoes. I, as well as much of the natural health community, agree that the simple, starchy carbohydrate content of white potatoes breaks down too quickly and, therefore, doesnt offer the kind of lasting nutrition of other potato options.
However, some studies do position white potatoes as a source of nutrition that is cost-effective, and its true they do contain important vitamins and minerals with a relatively low calorie count.
The overwhelming consensus, however, reflects that colored potatoes offer the most broad range of health benefits. These benefits come from the antioxidant-rich vitamins and minerals that help individuals to lower their chances of developing chronic or acute diseases like high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimers.
If youre making homemade French fries using sweet potatoes or purple potatoes, then French fries calories can offer some great benefits. Conventional French fries, especially those sold in fast food establishments, do nothing for your health.
Mcdonald’s To Trim Harmful Fats In Its French Fries
McDonald’s french fries are getting a cholesterol check.
Catering to Americans’ supersized appetite for healthier foods, McDonald’s Corp. said Tuesday that it will switch to a new cooking oil to cut the harmful fats in its popular spuds. Although the oil change may not peel away the pounds, it should help keep fry-lovers’ hearts healthier.
A small order of McDonald’s fries, for example, will have the same 210 calories and 10.2 grams of total fat as before. But the trans fatty acids and saturated fat–both linked to heart disease–will be reduced by more than one-third. In addition, the amount of beneficial polyunsaturated fats will more than double.
Health experts suggest that replacing saturated fats with unsaturated ones can help lower cholesterol levels. The new oil will be used to cook all of McDonald’s fried foods, including Chicken McNuggets, Filet-O-Fish, hash browns and crispy chicken sandwiches.
Fast-food critics and nutrition experts applauded McDonald’s for taking a responsible step to improve public health but cautioned that McDonald’s fries remain a no-no for those watching their calories and cholesterol.
“This doesn’t turn french fries into a health food,” warns Margo Wootan, director of nutrition policy at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a vocal fast-food critic. “But we’re still pleased to see this change because it’s good for Americans’ hearts.”
Read Also: Are Baked Potatoes High In Cholesterol
Can A Diabetic Eat French Fries
A diabetic can eat just a few French fries. The last time I spoke to my doctor, she advised me not to eat more than six French fries in one go. Being a diabetic, I decided to follow her advice. And I never had any problems with my blood sugar levels after eating French fries.
French fries are not something a diabetic should be eating much of. Firstly, potatoes are high in carbs and deep frying French fries makes them oily. This makes French fries a cause for double trouble for diabetics. High carb in potatoes can lead to spikes in blood sugar levels. Deep frying in oil makes French fries creasy and can lead to weight gain and high cholesterol. Moreover, French fries generally have salt sprinkled on them.
Finally, one often uses generous amounts of tomato ketchup to go with French fries. To sum up, carbs from potatoes, oil from deep frying, added salt and vinegar, ketchup, mayonnaise or other condiments for diabetics are all factors that make French fries a difficult food for diabetics. If you use unhealthful oils to fry French fries, it can cause inflammation and increase risk of cardiovascular disease. As a result, a diabetic must be very careful when eating French fries. Please note that hash browns also have similar nutritional profile as French fries.
French Fries And Chips
Like fried chicken, french fries and chips contain the partially hydrogenated oils that raise your bad cholesterol and lower your good cholesterol. While trans fatty acids should be eliminated from your diet and saturated fats should be limited, the unsaturated fatty acids found in fish and liquid vegetable oils increase the HDL in your bloodstream. The reason HDL is so beneficial is that it removes the excess LDL from your cells. Replace french fries and chips that contain partially hydrogenated oils with veggies brushed with olive oil and roasted in your oven. Olive oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, and safflower oil all contain the unsaturated fatty acids that improve your HDL.
Recommended Reading: Does Egg Beaters Contain Eggs
Opt For Skinless Chicken
Although chicken is usually considered to be a good low-fat meat choice, how you cook it and serve it makes all the difference. For example, one chicken leg with the skin still on has more fat and saturated fat than a hamburger. Remember that removing the skin will help reduce the overall fat content, King says. Indulge in a fried chicken leg once in a while and stick to the grilled or baked chicken.
If you leave the skin on poultry or bread and deep-fry it, you turn it into an unhealthy, cholesterol-spiking food. Also, remember that dark poultry meat has more fat than white meat. When making chicken choices, opt for skinless and skip the dark meat.
Is There Any Fiber In French Fries
4.2/5Fiberfriesfiber
Potatoes get a bad rap, but it’s not really fair. They’re really a wholesome and nutritious food. One medium potato packs in 2 grams of fiber, along with potassium and vitamins C and B-6.
Additionally, how unhealthy are french fries? French fries have a lot of fat and salt that could raise the risk of cardiovascular disease. High consumers of French fries might also be high consumers of other high-fat or high-salt foods, sweetened beverages, and red meat.
Similarly one may ask, are french fries a good source of potassium?
You can control the amount of potassium you get in your diet by being aware of which foods are low or high in potassium. Topic Overview.
| Food | Serving size |
|---|---|
| Milk | 1 cup |
What foods are highest in fiber?
High-fiber foods
- FRUITS. Fiber-rich fruits include: bananas, oranges, apples, mangoes, strawberries, raspberries.
- VEGETABLES. Generally, the darker the color, the higher the fiber content.
- BEANS & LEGUMES. Beans and legumes are flavorful, fiber-filled additions to salads, soups, and chilis.
- BREADS & GRAINS.
Don’t Miss: How Much Cholesterol In Mussels
Skip The Salt On Fries
Fries are typically also heavy on the salt, and excess sodium causes fluid retention that can increase blood pressure by creating a burden on the heart. The United States Department of Agriculture notes that most people get more sodium than needed. Too much sodium may also increase the risk of stroke, heart failure, osteoporosis, stomach cancer and kidney disease.
An alternative at a restaurant is to ask for your fries to be made with less or no salt. Or order baked fries and/or fries that are made from healthier potatoes, such as darker-colored purple, gold or sweet potatoes. The darker pigments found in these types of potatoes offer flavonoids and carotenoids that promote good health.
Potatoes on their own have nutritional benefits of fiber, vitamins and minerals, calcium, magnesium, zinc, contain no cholesterol or fat and are high in fiber and potassium. Potatoes of all varieties are also rich in complex carbohydrates containing starches and glycogen.
Read more:Sweet Potato Fries Nutrition
Amount Of Cholesterol In French Fries
Welcome to the nutritional cholesterol content in 4 different types of french fries, ranging from 1 mg to 0 mg per 100g. The basic type of french fries is DENNY’S, French fries, where the amount of cholesterol in 100g is 0 mg.
The percentage of the recommended daily allowance for cholesterol is based on a 200 mg RDA level for a mature adult.
You May Like: Does Tuna Have Good Or Bad Cholesterol
Eating Unhealthy Foods Can Ruin An Otherwise Healthy Diet
Unfortunately, eating healthy most of the time won’t make up for your French fry habit.
A separate study, published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia earlier this month, found that eating fried foods, sweets, and other unhealthy snacks may diminish the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet.
The Mediterranean diet, which is rich in vegetables, fruit, fish and whole grains, is known for being flexible and easy to follow. But dieters need to adhere to the guidelines in order to reap the health benefits, which include better cognitive health and a decreased risk of chronic disease and overall mortality.
In the study, people who adhered closest to the Mediterranean diet saw the most benefits to their cognitive health, while those who also indulged in unhealthy Western foods may as well have been not dieting at all.