The real reason why you crave fried food

Fried dishes attract people not only because of their delicious taste but also the crunchy feeling when eating. Therefore, it is no wonder that we crave fried foods from time to time. However, the cause of this phenomenon may be not only due to normal cravings but also due to some other health problems.

Fried foods often contain a lot of fat, salt and large amounts of starch. Therefore, craving french fries, fried chicken or sweet potato fries may be because we are craving and need to eat more starch, fat or salt, according to nutrition and health site Eat This, Not That! (America).

Fried foods often contain a lot of unhealthy fats and eating too much can easily cause inflammation. (Photo: PEXELS).

Some studies show that craving fried foods may also be due to the body not getting enough omega-3 fatty acids , a type of healthy fat. However, fried foods often contain a lot of fat and these types of fats are unhealthy. Eating too much will make the body susceptible to infection. Instead of eating fried foods, people should supplement healthy fats found in nuts and fatty fish such as salmon and tuna.

Another possibly surprising reason why we crave fried foods is due to excess zinc. A study by Texas Christian University (USA) showed that people who absorb zinc in higher than average levels tend to crave fried foods more.

Zinc plays an important role in protein synthesis, immune function and many other biochemical processes. However, we only need zinc in small doses. Too much zinc can inhibit copper absorption and cause indigestion. To be healthy, the maximum amount of zinc that should be consumed per day is no more than 40 mg.

We tend to crave junk food, including fried foods. Lack of sleep and emotional stress can also be causes of this condition. Fried foods are delicious and stimulate the brain's reward center, thereby creating a pleasant feeling when eaten.

Occasionally, craving fried food is not harmful to your health . However, try not to let this eating choice become a habit. If fried foods are the main dish in our meals, we need to adjust our diet. Because frying not only destroys some nutrients in food but also promotes the formation of acrylamide .

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says acrylamide is a compound formed from a chemical reaction between sugar and the amino acid asparagine. In the long term, consuming too much of this substance can lead to cancer, according to Eat This, Not That!.