potato cancer heart disease: Cancer, heart disease can be kept away by potato? Check health benefits
Potatoes are also full of phenolics, a type of polyphenol that helps reduce inflammation, regulate immune function, and protect cells from damage. According to NYT News Service, Mary Ellen Camire, a professor of food science and human nutrition at the University of Maine who studies the health benefits of potatoes, said potatoes contain small amounts of vitamin B6, which is essential for cardiovascular, immune and mental health.
Potatoes are also full of phenolics, a type of polyphenol that helps reduce inflammation, regulate immune function, and protect cells from damage. According to a NYT News Service report, Mary Ellen Camire, a professor of food science and human nutrition at the University of Maine who studies the health benefits of potatoes, said potatoes contain small amounts of vitamin B6, which is essential for cardiovascular, immune and mental health.
Sweet potatoes tend to have the largest share of nutritional value, but regular potatoes (russets, fingerlings, reds, and Yukon Golds) deserve another look. Tubers help support your immune system, assist with various body functions, and maintain your energy.
“Potatoes often have a bad reputation” because they’re eaten in the form of french fries or potato chips, says Tal Kleiner, director of clinical nutrition at NYU Langone Health. But when prepared in a healthy way, potatoes are an “amazing, nutrient-dense” food, he added.
Potatoes are high in carbohydrates (a medium peeled red potato has about 35 grams), but that doesn’t make them “inherently bad,” says Tara Schmidt, a dietitian and nutrition educator at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, which means they can’t be considered an “off limits” food.
Potatoes are complex carbohydrates that take longer for the body to break down and digest than simple carbohydrates, Kleiner said, so they provide a more consistent source of energy, which helps you feel full and full for longer.
But some varieties have a high glycemic index, which means they can raise blood sugar quickly, Kleiner said. Diets rich in high-GI foods have been associated with an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease. He explained that waxy potatoes, such as fingerlings and red potatoes, tend to have a lower GI than scarlet or Idaho potatoes, and boiled and roasted potatoes have a lower GI than fried or mashed potatoes.
Schmidt recommended “meal balancing” by pairing potatoes with lean protein, healthy fats and non-starchy vegetables to help manage blood sugar spikes and slow digestion.
FAQ
Q1. What do we know about potatoes?
A1. Potatoes are also full of phenolics, a type of polyphenol that helps reduce inflammation, regulate immune function, and protect cells from damage.
Q2. What do we know about carbohydrates in potatoes?
A2. Potatoes are high in carbohydrates (a medium peeled red potato has about 35 grams), but that doesn’t make them “inherently bad,” says Tara Schmidt, a dietitian and nutrition educator at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, which means they can’t be considered an “off limits” food.
