Study Links French Fries, Breast Cancer

Young girls who eat one portion of french fries a week increase their risk of breast cancer later in life.

That what researchers claimed Friday, but nutritionists say that's from just one study and the claim is even alarmist.

The suggested link between french fries and breast cancer will send alarm bells ringing for parents whose children love to fill up on fries.

But the study is misleading say some experts because the data relies on the mothers' long-term memories and there are healthier ways to eat french fries.

Here's how the study worked.

The researchers looked at about 2,000 American nurses.

They asked their mothers what their daughters had eaten between the ages of three and five.

They found that each weekly serving of french fries increased the risk of breast cancer by 27 percent.

Other junk food like hot dogs or ice cream showed no increased risk.

The study looked at dates more than 50 years ago, and not only is the memory recorded their mothers an issue.

Then they tended to use lard for frying, and that's high unsaturated fats.

Now we tend to know more about using the healthier vegetable oils.

Dr. Hanna Theobald from the British nutrition foundation says, "We know that diet high in saturated fats can actually increase the risk of having heart disease. But also increase the risk of developing certain cancers, such as breast cancer."

So by choosing vegetable oils over animal fats you are raising actually non-saturates which can actually positively benefit your health and reduce your risk of certain diseases.

Some of the headlines seem the alarmist from this study.

Should children never be eating french fries then?

"French fries can provide a healthy balance diet, but obviously don't eat deep fried foods every day.

If you are going to fry food such as french fries, chose a vegetable oil, use a high temperature and if you are going to cook french fries, cut them chunky so they absorb less fat and also make sure you change your oil regularly, because heating vegetable oils to high temperatures can actually lead to the formation of trans-fatty acids, which also have other affects on our health.

Breast cancer campaign is say parents need not panic but stress the need for a balanced diet.

Pamela Goldberg, a breast cancer expert, says, "Fried food is actually not very good for you and the less you eat of it the better. A diet high in fresh food and vegetables and lower in fat is very important."

So french fries, not with everything, just occasionally and in vegetable oil.