6 Best Health Benefits Of Eating Potatoes

Native to South America, potato or Solanum tuberosum is a perennial plant that boasts many health benefits and has a high therapeutic value.

It is one of the most eaten vegetables in Europe, and the favorite of Americans and French alike: we eat over 65 lbs (30 kg) a year per person! With high levels of carbohydrates, potassium, magnesium and also fiber, potato is considered to be a wholesome vegetable and contributes to a healthy and varied diet. It contains an impressive quantity of vitamins and minerals that support our body’s health.

# Promotes Weight Gain

Eating potatoes on a regular and moderate basis has been found to be very beneficial for underweight individuals who would like to gain some weight.It is an ideal diet for the extremely lean people, as it will help them not only in gaining some extra pounds but is also a good source of nutrients like vitamins and minerals.This weight-gain benefit of potato is mainly because of the abundance of carbohydrates in them. Eating 100 grams of potatoes provide around 17 grams of carbohydrates which roughly translates into 77 kcal of energy.Potatoes are high in calories and this makes them very beneficial for the weight gain.

In addition to this, the B complex vitamins and the Vitamin C present in the potatoes plays a significant role in the absorption of carbohydrates and this also helps in the weight gain.

# Keeps Our Digestive System Healthy

Consuming potatoes on a regular and moderate basis has been found to be very beneficial for our stomach and helps in keeping our digestive system healthy.This benefit of potato is mainly because of the presence of dietary fibers or roughage in them.The dietary fibers present in the potatoes act as a natural laxative, improves bowel movement and ensures smooth elimination of waste from our system.

By doing so it not only provides relief from constipation but also helps in treating various digestive disorders like abdominal pain, indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, bloating, flatulence, colorectal cancer, etc.Potatoes are rich in carbohydrates which are easy to digest, and this helps in metabolism and thus helps in keeping our digestive system healthy.

# Reduces The Risk of Scurvy

Potatoes are a good source of Vitamin C and consuming 100 grams of potatoes provide around 19.7 mg of Vitamin C, and this makes them very beneficial against scurvy.Scurvy is a disease caused by the deficiency of Vitamin C in our body. It is characterized by symptoms like cracked lip corners, spongy and bleeding gums, pain in joints and muscles, loss of appetite, malaise, fatigue, fever, poor wound healing, etc.Vitamin C present in the potatoes reduces the risk of scurvy and also provides a number of other benefits such as strengthens the immune system, provides antioxidantal benefits, provides anti-inflammatory benefits, maintains cardiovascular health, aids in weight loss, relieves stress and so on.

# Aids In Treating Rheumatism

Careful and moderate consumption of potatoes ( for this, water obtained from boiled potatoes can be used ) has been found to be very effective in treating rheumatism and for providing relief from the pain associated with it.Rheumatism is a condition that causes inflammation and pain in the joints, muscles and fibrous tissues.

The Vitamin C present in the potatoes are anti-inflammatory in nature which means they are very effective in providing relief from inflammation and pain associated with it.Another compound, magnesium present in the potatoes also plays a significant role in treating rheumatism.

However, it should also be remembered that potatoes are high in starch and carbohydrates and eating too many potatoes can lead to weight gain or obesity, which can worsen the condition of rheumatism.So, if you’d like to use potatoes against rheumatism, you have to eat them in moderation and also ensure that you keep your weight under control.

# Provides Relief From Inflammation

Regular and moderate consumption of potatoes has been found to be very beneficial for providing relief from the inflammation and the pain associated with it.This benefit of potatoes is mainly because of the presence of anti-inflammatory compounds present in it.

Vitamin C present in potatoes provides relief from inflammation and is thus effective against arthritis, gouts, rheumatism, etc.However, as mentioned earlier, make sure that you eat them in moderation to avoid the excessive weight gain ( which may otherwise worsen the inflammatory diseases).

# Reduces The Risk of Several Types of Cancers

Regular and moderate intake of potatoes has been found to be very useful in reducing the risk of several types of cancers like colon cancer, skin cancer, abdominal cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, etc.This anti-carcinogenic benefit of potatoes is mainly due to the presence of antioxidants like Vitamin C and other antioxidantal compounds like phytonutrients in them.

These antioxidants fight with the free radicals of our body stabilizes them and thus prevents them from causing oxidative damage to our cells.Free radicals are nothing but the unstabilized ions that get formed during the oxidation process in our body. As these are unstabilized, so they steal electrons from the neighboring molecules and thus cause oxidative damage to them.By protecting our cells from the oxidative damage, it reduces the risk of several types of cancers.Other compounds like zeaxanthin, quercetin, carotenes, etc. also play a significant role in protecting us against the risk of various cancers.