Scientists Calculate the "Safe Portion" Size for French Fries — Fast Food Fans Are in Shock (3 photos)
Harvard researchers set out to determine how many french fries you can eat without risking your health. To find out, they conducted a study on a group of volunteers who exercised regularly, ate a balanced diet, and got a good night's sleep.
The findings will come as a unwelcome shock to fast-food lovers… As it turns out, even with such an ideal lifestyle, eating french fries is strongly discouraged. 
Who doesn't love golden, crispy french fries? They're arguably the ultimate side dish, pairing perfectly not just with fast food, but with steaks and other hot entrees. But it’s no secret that overindulging is a bad idea—after all, those potato slices are practically swimming in oil to get so delicious.
Is it really so bad to indulge every once in a while? That’s exactly what the Harvard University team set out to discover. 
The findings revealed that eating deep-fried potatoes takes a severe toll on human health. Frequent fry eaters face a heightened risk of heart problems, as well as higher rates of diabetes and obesity.
According to the study, a "safe portion" is just six (!!!) individual fries per week (!!!). And that’s assuming you stay active, eat well, and sleep soundly. Just six fries! For an entire week… 
Similar findings emerged from a previous study by Italian researchers, who discovered that people who cut out french fries entirely lived six months longer than those who treated themselves occasionally.
