Fried foods are not harmful to the heart as long as you use olive oil or sunflower oil, informs BBC News / Health.
Fried foods become more caloric as they absorb the fat that surrounds them. Fatty food promotes high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol levels – common risk factors for heart disease.
However, according to research conducted at the University of Madrid, eating foods fried in olive oil is not associated with an increased risk of heart disease or premature death. The study involved 40 adults who were asked about their diet and the way of preparing the food they eat. At the start of the 757-year study, none of the participants had a heart disease, but by the time the study was completed, there were 11 heart cases and 606 deaths. Detailed analysis showed no association between fried foods and disease or death.
The researchers emphasize that the results of their research refer to traditional Spanish cuisine based on olive and sunflower oil and cannot be transferred to lard, butter, palm oil or other saturated fats. In addition, an excess of caloric fried products can lead to obesity that is dangerous to your health.