Eating potatoes everyday for weight loss isn’t a new concept. In fact, it’s been around since the 1800s and in recent years its popularity has surged. If you’re looking to shed some weight, then you can start by eating more potato than usual. But why? Let’s dig in.
Why Eat More Potatoes Than Usual?
If you’re looking to lose weight, then you’re probably already aware of the health benefits of eating potatoes. But why stop there? You can incorporate other veggies as well to make the most of their nutritional value. With that in mind, let’s look into some of the reasons why you might want to eat more potatoes than usual.
They’re Low In Calories
One of the major reasons why people opt to eat more potatoes than usual is because they have low calories. This is good for those trying to lose weight as it helps them to cut back on calories consumed. More importantly, the humble potato isn’t usually considered a calorie-rich food. So if you’re looking to shed some pounds, then you might want to consider eating more potatoes than usual. To put this into context, a medium potato (around 100g) has around 20 calories. That’s less than one apple (80 calories) and one orange (115 calories) in comparison. So you’re not only gaining weight, you’re also feeding your waistline with every bite. Eat slowly and make mindful choices throughout the day to make the most of your health benefits while you eat your way to weight loss.
They Have High Fiber And Water Contents
Another great thing about potatoes is that they’re high in fiber and water content. This makes them extremely filling and offers you a nice balance of nutrients as well. One medium potato has around 7g of fiber and 80% of the recommended daily amount of water (150g). So if you’re looking for something that’s high in both fiber and water content, then you can’t go wrong with a potato.
They Have High Bioavailability Of Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that’s critical for human health. Thankfully, potatoes are one of the best sources of vitamin C. It’s more soluble in water and therefore more accessible for the body. This means that when you eat it, your body can use the nutrient more efficiently. One medium potato has around 23% of the daily recommended amount of vitamin C (125mg). So if you want to up your intake of this nutrient, then you can opt for more potatoes than usual. Of course, you should only eat vitamin C-rich foods if you’re not already getting plenty of it in your diet. Otherwise, it could backfire and result in health problems.
They Have A High Glycemic Index
The glycemic index of a food measures its rise in blood sugar levels after ingestion. This determines whether the food is suitable for diabetics or those seeking to avoid obesity. Potato has a relatively high glycemic index. This means that when you eat it, your blood sugar levels will spike. But that’s a good thing! This is because the food contains a lot of nutrients that offer several health benefits. More importantly, the glycemic index of potato is only 62. So when you eat it, you’ll get a modest rise in blood sugar levels. This is great for those seeking to control their weight as it prevents blood sugar levels from spiking too high. High blood sugar is dangerous as it can result in diabetes. If you’re already taking care of yourself and following a healthy diet, then there’s no need to be afraid of eating a food with a high glycemic index. Nevertheless, those looking to lose weight should consider avoiding foods with a high glycemic index as much as possible.
They Have A Neutral Effect On The Human Microbiome
The human microbiome is the sum total of all the bacteria, yeast, and other minute organisms that reside in our gut. Some of these organisms are good, some are bad, and the balance is important for our bodies’ wellbeing. One great thing about potatoes is that they don’t significantly affect the microbiome balance. When eaten, bacteria in our gut remain unchanged. This makes them an ideal food for those seeking to lose weight as it prevents any adverse effects on their microbiome caused by eating certain other foods.
They Have A High Potency Vitamin E
It’s well-established that vitamin E is incredibly important for human health. This vitamin shields our cells from damage caused by free radicals (highly reactive molecules that result from toxins, pollution, or poor eating habits). Vitamin E is highly available in vegetable oils like olive and avocados as well as in nuts and seeds. When eaten, it’s easily absorbed by our bodies and therefore offers several advantages. One of these is that it possesses potent anti-inflammatory properties. So if you’re looking to avoid chronic inflammation, then you can opt for foods rich in vitamin E. This includes most vegetables, berries, and nuts. The potato does have a decent amount of vitamin E (18% of the daily recommended value), but its potency is only 44%. This means that when you eat it, you’ll absorb only a modest amount of vitamin E. You might want to consider seeking foods that are high in potency if you’re looking to optimize its benefits.
They Have A High Amount Of Iron
Iron is one of the essential nutrients for humans. It’s part of the protein in hemoglobin, which makes it critical for carrying oxygen around our body. Our bodies don’t make much of it and therefore it’s important that we get it from our diet. One medium potato provides around 7.5% of the daily recommended amount of iron (50mg). This makes it a good food for those seeking to shed some weight. It also has the added benefit of being low in calories and high in nutrients. So if you’re looking for an inexpensive food that’s high in nutrients and low in calories, then you can’t go wrong with a potato.
They Increase Satiety
This last point regards to the potato’s effect on our appetite. When eaten, it has a modest effect on our appetite. This is because the food contains a lot of nutrients that the body needs. More notably, it has the potential to increase satiety (the feeling of fullness after eating). This is mainly because of the nutrients that the food contains. It also has a high water content, so you’ll need to eat more to feel satisfied. In general, there’s nothing wrong with eating something that has a satiating effect. If you’re already feeling full after eating one potato, then you might not need to eat another. This could result in weight loss.
What About The Taste?
When it comes to the potato, most people think about its weight loss potential rather than its taste. This is a mistake! You’ll need to consider the taste of the potato if you want to make the right choice when choosing food. If you like the taste of the potato, then you should eat it as it is. But if you don’t like the taste of the potato, then you should avoid it or at least opt for a different one.
The potato is a versatile food that can be integrated into most diets. This means that even people who don’t generally like to eat vegetables can incorporate the humble potato into their diets. And for those looking to shed some weight, then the potato provides several health benefits and a decent amount of calories. This last point is only applicable if you’re not taking care of yourself already as high blood sugar levels pose a significant threat to human health. In this case, you can’t go wrong with the humble potato. It’s relatively easy to prepare and offers several nutrition benefits.