A new, comprehensive study contradicts widespread common advice that fried food should be avoided in order to protect the heart.

Professor Pilar Guallar-Castillon of the Autonomous University in Madrid and her team conducted the study.

They took 40,757 adults, all of whom were free of heart disease at the start of the study.  During the 11 years of the studies durations, there were 606 diagnosis of coronary heart disease and 1,135 deaths overall. 

Those in the highest risk group for fried food consumption had no significant raised risk of heart disease than those not eating fried food.

A report published in the BMJ said there was no difference in the results between the use of olive oil for frying than the use of sunflower oil.

It was found that even though it is common place in a Mediterranean diet to use olive oil and sunflower oil in large quantities, both in the home and away from home, there was no association observed between fried food consumption and the risk of coronary heart disease or death.

However, we must proceed with caution!  Whilst this information will come as a breath of fresh air to those who like to indulge in a good fry up, we should be careful to note that fried food does of course contain more calories than non fried food.  We could certainly rack up an awful lot of calories if we fried everything which could lead to over consumption which in turn could lead to weight gain or obesity which are both risk factors in heart disease.

It would appear however that the widespread belief that the smallest amount of fried food is going to kill us appears to be unfounded.  The evidence just isn’t there to support the myth.   The challenge as always is balance!  Enjoy your occasional fry up guilt free!

James.