Table of contents:
- Various benefits of potatoes that you can get
- 1. Contains antioxidants
- 2. Helps control blood sugar
- 3. Good for digestion
- 4. Gluten free
- 5. Maintain normal blood pressure
- 6. Maintain a healthy nervous system and brain function
- 7. Maintain heart health
Potatoes are a popular source of carbohydrates as a substitute for rice. This type of tuber, which has the Latin name Solanum tuberosum, is relatively easy to process and create into a variety of starters, mains and desserts which are of course delicious. Not only delicious, you can get a variety of goodness in it. What are the health benefits of potatoes? Check out the reviews below.
Various benefits of potatoes that you can get
1. Contains antioxidants
Potatoes are very rich in flavonoids, karetonoid, and phenolic acids. These compounds act as antioxidants in the body which will prevent free radicals from appearing that normally damage body cells.
In fact, the accumulation of free radicals is believed to be a risk factor for various chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Research in Nutrition and Cancer in 2011 showed that the antioxidants in potatoes can suppress the growth of liver and colon cancer cells.
Therefore, to reduce the risk of all these diseases, you can eat potatoes.
2. Helps control blood sugar
Many say that potatoes are bad for diabetes, but it's the opposite. Another benefit of potatoes is that they help control blood sugar, so this source of carbohydrates is quite safe for diabetics.
Potatoes contain a lot of starch called resistant starch which cannot be fully absorbed by the body. When resistant starch enters the large intestine, this starch will become a source of nutrition for the good bacteria in the intestine. Research suggests that resistant starch can make insulin, the hormone controlling blood sugar, work more optimally.
In addition, a study in Medicine (Baltimore) 2015 conducted on people with type two diabetes also showed that after consuming foods with resistant starch, blood sugar was shown to be more stable.
Interestingly, you can also increase the resistant starch content of potatoes by storing boiled potatoes in the refrigerator overnight and then eating them cold.
3. Good for digestion
Still related to the resistant starch content of potatoes, which in fact can help improve the digestive system. So when it enters the intestine, this resistant starch will be eaten by good bacteria. Then, these good bacteria will convert it into short chain fatty acids.
Well, these short chain fatty acids have a myriad of health benefits, for example, they can reduce the risk of inflammation in the colon, strengthen colon defenses, and reduce the risk of colorectal cancer (colon cancer). In addition, chain fatty acids from resistant starch are also very important to help people who are experiencing intestinal infections, such as Crohn's disease, or diverticulitis.
4. Gluten free
The substance in potatoes is also gluten free. Gluten is a type of protein found in grains, such as wheat germ. For people who have problems processing gluten such as celiac disease, potatoes can be the right choice.
Although gluten-free, not all potato recipes are completely gluten-free. Some potato dishes contain gluten such as in gravy, or potato bread. If you have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, be sure to read the full ingredient list first.
5. Maintain normal blood pressure
Another important benefit of potatoes is that they help stabilize blood pressure. Reported on the Live Science page, potatoes are a good source of potassium, even more so than bananas.
Potassium is a mineral that can help lower blood pressure by stimulating blood vessels to expand in size. In addition, potatoes also contain calcium and magnesium, which also play a role in controlling normal blood pressure.
Reported on the Live Science page, the Institute for Food Research has found that potatoes contain chemicals called kukoamines, which are also linked to lowering blood pressure.
6. Maintain a healthy nervous system and brain function
Vitamin B6 in potatoes is very important for maintaining healthy neurons or nerves. Vitamin B6 helps create brain chemicals namely, including serotonin, dopamine, and noreprineephrine, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
This means, eating potatoes can help with depression or stress. In addition, the potassium in potatoes, which encourages dilation of blood vessels, also helps ensure that the brain gets enough blood.
7. Maintain heart health
The carotenoids in potatoes help maintain proper heart function. Vitamins C and B6 also help reduce free radicals in heart cells and other body cells. Vitamin B6 also has an important role in a process in the body called the methylation process.
One of the functions of this process is to convert homocysteine, a dangerous molecule, into methionine, a new structural component in protein. Too much homocysteine can damage blood vessel walls and higher levels have been linked to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
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