Pluses of Eating Potatoes
Love potatoes? Here are some of the versatile veggie’s health benefits
From the LifeMinute.TV Team
August 19, 2021
National Potato Day is August 19th. To celebrate the versatile root vegetable, here are some of the biggest health benefits they offer.
Nutritious
Potatoes contain several vitamins and minerals, such as manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, niacin, folate, vitamin C, and vitamin B6. But make sure you eat the skin because that is where a great amount of nutrition is. They also contain about 80% water and are a good source of potassium.
May Help Control Blood Sugar Levels
Potatoes contain resistant starch that helps to reduce insulin resistance. In turn, this can improve blood sugar control. Consuming a meal with resistant starch can aid in removing excess blood sugar after a meal.
Facilitate Digestion
The resistant starch from potatoes is mostly converted into the short-chain fatty acid butyrate, which is needed for your overall gut health, along with helping to make energy for some of your gut cells. Potatoes are also high in carbohydrates and a good source of fiber, which can help your whole digestion system work more efficiently.
Support Brain Health
Potatoes contain nutrients including B6, which is important to maintaining neurological health and helping to prevent brain fog.
Aide in Sleep
Potatoes are rich in tryptophan, an amino acid with natural sedative properties that can help calm the nerves. L-tryptophan is an amino acid because the body can’t make it on its own. We must get it from food.
Fight Off Free Radicals
Since potatoes contain compounds like flavonoids, carotenoids, and phenolic acids, they can help to neutralize potentially harmful free radicals. A test-tube study found that the antioxidants present in potatoes may suppress the growth of liver and colon cancer cells.
Keep You Feeling Full
A study found potatoes ranked #1 out of 38 common foods when it comes to feeling full. Because they're filling, potatoes can aid in weight loss. There is even evidence showing certain potato protein, proteinase inhibitor 2 (PI2), can help to curb appetite.