The Center for Science in the Public Interest tested French fries at 14 of America's leading hospitals andsix top children's hospitals.

All 20 served fries with health-harming trans fats.

Among the worst offenders, based on the trans fatty content of their fries:

  • Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania -- 5.3 grams
  • University of Michigan Health System -- 4.9 grams
  • UCLA Medical Center -- 4.6 grams
  • University of Washington Medical Center -- 4.5 grams
  • University of California, San Francisco, Medical Center and Children's National Medical Center -- 4.1 grams
  • What's more, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) serves trans-fat-laden French fries in its cafeteria, despite that agency's own recommended dietary guidelines. Their French fries, in fact, contained more trans fats than any of the hospitals.

    The report is having some effect; the University of Michigan Health System vowed to work to remove trans fats from their menus, and the USDA will begin serving fries cooked in trans-fat-free canola oil.

    Center for Science in the Public Interest February 6, 2006USA Today February 7, 2006

    Dr. Mercola's Comment:Considering all the damage trans fatty junk food like French fries can do to your health, it amazes me how most of the nation's leading hospitals still don't see the whole picture.

    They seem to be completely focused on the problem at hand and are oblivious to the obvious impact food has on their patients' health, including their ability to recover from their current illness and ability to prevent future visits.

    Remember, French fries are among the worst foods you could ever eat, as they're laced not only with trans fats, but acrylamide, produced when starchy foods are cooked at high temperatures. That's why I recommend avoiding French fries, along with potato chips, soft drinks and doughnuts, and eating as much raw food as you can.

    So if you are going to the hospital, be proactive and have your family bring you HEALTHY meals that will help your body recover rather than rely on the "free" food the hospitals serve that is designed to accelerate your death.

    For those times when you must heat your food, you will certainly not want to use your microwave.

    Microwaves heat your food by causing it tovibrate at very high frequencies. While this can effectively heat your food it also causes a change in the chemical structure of the food that can lead to health problems. But consider the rapid cooking and inexpensive oventhat our readers are raving about.

    The terrible, unhealthy food you get fed is just one of the many ways that hospitals can kill you,especially in America. They are also addicted to health-harming "cures" and dangerous medical mistakes. And that is why the fatally flawed paradigm that passes for conventional health care in this country desperately needs to be transformed.

    Author's Bio: 

    This article is reprinted from Mercola.com, the world's #1 most visited and trusted natural/alternative health website. For a limited time only, you can take the FREE "Metabolic Type Test" to help you learn the right foods for your particular body type so you can achieve optimal fitness & health. Just go to http://www.mercola.com/forms/mt_test.htm right now to take this quick test!