6 Reasons Eating Potato Is Good For You

Editorial Team

Potatoes are cheap and sweet as well, not only that, they can be used to cook a variety of recipes and are packed with nutrients such as potassium, magnesium, zinc, vitamin B6 and phosphorus which will help your body function properly. Below are other reasons you should include potatoes in your meals;

1. Boost antioxidants

Antioxidants prevent or delay cell damage by getting rid of potentially damaging agents from the body, meanwhile potatoes baked or boiled with the skin contains about 700 grams of antioxidants or more depending on the type of potato. Although frying potatoes kill this benefit, also boiling potatoes with the skin retain all the nutrients.

2. Helps maintain blood pressure

Potatoes contain potassium which helps control our blood pressure, while banana also contain potassium it only has 9% of your daily needs but potato contains 20% while sweet potato contains 12%. But do not remove the back or you'll reduce the potassium content drastically, boil or bake with the skin on.

3. Hamper cancer cell growth

Sweet potato is orange coloured because it contains beta-carotene, what beta-carotene does is to encourage the cells to communicate, yet studies have shown that encouraging cells to communicate allows normal cells to send growth-reducing signals to abnormal ones. Thereby reducing the growth of cancer cells, other foods containing beta-carotene include carrots, spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, broccoli.

4. Lower blood pressure

Potatoes can help lower blood pressure as it contains potassium, a mineral that help lower blood pressure through its actions as a vasodilator (blood vessel widener). research has also shown that potatoes contain kukoamines, a chemical that can help lower blood pressure.

5. Restores bone health

To have strong bones, a varety of nutrients such as calcium are needed but a Spanish study has found that manganese which potatoes contain helped prevent bone loss in rat. Again, method of cooking matter, frying or cutting off the skin reduces it's nutrients.

6. Control blood sugar

Sweet potatoes are sweet but surprisingly, they help control your blood sugar level by 30% thanks to their high soluble fibre content. So if you're worried that it may make your blood sugar skyrocket, go for sweet potato.