Benefits of Potatoes for the Health

Potatoes are not typically regarded as being nutritious. However, this versatile vegetable offers surprising advantages in terms of both nutrition and health. Although potato skins and french fries contain a lot of fat and calories, the potato itself is free of fat, cholesterol, and sodium. When done correctly, potatoes can be used to make a dish that is delicious, filling, and healthy.

In the United States, potatoes are the most widely consumed vegetable. According to estimates, each person consumed 49.2 pounds of potatoes in 2017. This beloved vegetable is used in numerous dishes all year round and is simple to grow.
Benefits for the body and mind Potatoes contain a lot of fiber, which can help you lose weight by making you feel fuller for longer. By controlling blood sugar and cholesterol, fiber can help prevent heart disease. Additionally, potatoes are loaded with vitamins and antioxidants that support healthy body function.

Additionally, potatoes may offer the following health advantages:

Digestive Health The special kind of fiber found in potatoes is called “resistant starch.” This kind of fiber has the same health benefits as soluble and insoluble fiber and makes less gas than other kinds of fiber. Potatoes can have more resistant starch if they are cooked ahead of time and chilled overnight in the refrigerator. You can reheat them before eating.

The resistant starch in potatoes, like soluble fiber, serves as a prebiotic, providing food for beneficial bacteria in the large intestine and enhancing gut health. It can treat or prevent irritable bowel syndrome and constipation, just like insoluble fiber does.

Antioxidants, which are substances that prevent free radicals from causing damage to your cells, are abundant in potatoes. Heart disease and cancer risk are reduced when you eat a diet high in antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables.

Leave the skins on potatoes and select colorful varieties like purple potatoes to get the most out of them. The potato’s antioxidant content increases with its color. Additionally, the potato’s skin may contain up to 12 times more antioxidants than its flesh. Therefore, eat your potato skins without fear.