Usually, when people talk of healthy vegetables, potatoes are often overlooked. They are associated with increased weight and risk of Type II diabetes and often being among the foods to avoid, particularly for people who are insulin resistant.
A new study shows that potatoes have nutritional benefits as other healthy foods.
A new study has, however, revealed that potatoes are rich in nutrients and do not increase the risk of diabetes. The study from Pennington Biomedical Research Center researchers led by Candida Rebello examined how a potatoes-rich diet impacted health measures.
Rebello said that they showed that potatoes don’t adversely affect blood glucose levels, contrary to popular belief. He explained that individuals who were part of the study lost weight instead. People usually eat the same amount of food to be full irrespective of caloric content.
Rebello explained that someone could cut back on their caloric intake by picking heavier foods with low calories. The study’s most important finding was whether adding potatoes to dishes reduced their calorie content rather than reducing meal portions. Even though each individual’s meal was customized to meet their unique calorie demands, simply substituting potatoes for a portion of the meat, individuals reported feeling satisfied more quickly and frequently did not even complete their meal. In practice, losing weight is possible with hardly any effort.
Potatoes have the same health benefits as peas and beans
The study evaluated 36 individuals between 18 and 60 years that were obese, overweight, or insulin resistant. They were given accurately-controlled diets of the common food types, including peas, beans, and meat/fish, or meat/fish with white potatoes.
When the researchers compared the diets, they established that both had the same health benefits. Rebello explained that people don’t stick to a diet that isn’t varied, and through the meal plans provided, they demonstrated that healthy eating could be a variety of options for those looking to eat healthily.
The latest research findings on potatoes’ impact on metabolism can significantly add to the growing list of evidence on healthy eating.
