Everyone knows chips are an absolute no-no when you're on a diet.

But now experts are warning that eating too much of the humble potato in any form could be bad for our health as research shows it increases the risk of heart disease.

Cereals have also been identified as a potential 'problem' food, while the study showed consuming high fat dairy products actually helps cut the risk.

The study, which examines dietary habits and cardiovascular disease in 42 European countries over 16 years, contradicts current government nutrition guidance.

Experts are warning that eating too much of the humble potato in any form could be bad for our health as research shows it increases the risk of heart disease

Pavel Grasgruber, a lead author of the study, from Masaryk University in the Czech Republic, called for new advice to be issued based on the study.

'Current heart disease risk is based on flawed data. This study flies in the face of accepted wisdom on diet,' he told the Express.

'It is quite clear consumption of dairy products and meat is not linked with heart disease risk, as was traditionally believed.

'The biggest problem are cereals, wheat and potatoes, which increase the risk of heart disease.

The data, published in the Journal of Food and Nutrition Research, showed that high-fat dairy products, especially cheese, acted as a preventative for heart disease

'I can responsibly recommend people change their diets and to lower their carbohydrate load.'

The study, which compared data from the different countries, showed places with the highest carbohydrate consumption had the high prevalence of heart disease.

It also suggested that counties with low levels of cardiovascular disease typically had a diet rich in fat and protein.

The data, published in the Journal of Food and Nutrition Research, showed that high-fat dairy products, especially cheese, acted as a preventative for heart disease.

Citrus fruits, wine, tree nuts, olives and vegetables - all traditional components of the Mediterranean diet - are also thought to protect the heart.

The study stated that most obvious pattern of a high heart disease risk is a diet consisting of carbohydrates, potato and cereals.

Mr Grasgruber said the research 'strikingly contradicts' the traditional 'saturated fat hypothesis'.

The UK dietary guidelines, which were introduced in 1983, advised people to eat more carbohydrates including pasta, potatoes and cereals.

And it suggested people should eat less fat, particularly saturated fat.

A study, published in the BMJ in May, also identified potatoes as a key source of hypertension, better known as high blood pressure.