Sure, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to tell you French fries aren't great for your health, but a new study has linked regular consumption of fried potatoes to an increased risk of death.

The study was published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition journal on June 7. It was authored by researchers, faculty and doctors from Italy to the U.K. to St. Louis and Washington, among others.

Researchers analyzed 4,400 participants between the ages of 45 and 79 over the course of eight years. Fried potato consumption was tracked by using an in-depth questionnaire and categorized the participants by how often they ate French fries.

The study found that during its eight-year follow-up with participants, 236 of them had died.

"After adjustment for 14 potential baseline confounders, and taking those with the lowest consumption of potatoes as the reference group, participants with the highest consumption of potatoes did not show an increased risk of overall mortality," the study's results synopsis reads.

Those who consumed fried potatoes 2-3 times per week and more than three times a week "were at an increased risk of mortality." Keep in mind, the consumption of unfried potatoes is not -- and wasn't -- linked with an increased risk of death.

Frying potatoes adds more salt and fat to a generally healthy food.