Why Eating Potatoes Could Help You ‘Lose Weight With Little Effort’: Study

Carbohydrate lovers, rejoice! This delectable starch, long a guilty pleasure, might just be a secret weapon in trying to “lose weight with little effort.”

Researchers have discovered the surprising health benefits of potatoes – it turns out these potatoes are incredibly nutrient-dense and could be a ‘crucial part of a healthy diet’, according to a new study by researchers. researchers at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The root vegetable has long been snubbed as too starchy for people with insulin resistance, and was once thought to be a contributor to type 2 diabetes. But the tater’s bad reputation could be rectified now that scientists say can be part of the ideal diet.

This is great news for anyone who filled up on Grandma’s famous mashed potato on Thanksgiving, or overindulged in carbs during the holiday season in December. and at New Years.

Because starch is low in calories but very filling, researchers have found that filling a plate full of potatoes can help shrink waistlines.

“People tend to eat the same weight of food regardless of calorie content in order to feel full,” study co-author Professor Candida Rebello told SWNS. “By eating heavier, lower-calorie foods, you can easily reduce the number of calories you eat.”

The study included 36 people aged 18 to 60 who were overweight, obese or had insulin resistance. Participants were given two different diets, both high in fruits and vegetables and swapped 40% of typical American meat consumption with beans, peas or potatoes.

Beans have been touted as a diabetes superfood because doctors once crowned the legume as the best for keeping blood sugar stable – but these researchers were putting that theory to the test.

“The key aspect of our study is that we did not reduce the portion sizes of the meals, but reduced their caloric content by including potatoes,” Rebello continued. “Each participant’s meal was tailored to their personalized calorie needs, but by replacing some of the meat with potato, participants found themselves fuller, faster, and often didn’t even finish their meal. “

Trendy quote from Rebello: “Indeed, you can lose weight with little effort.”

Potatoes contain vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium, magnesium, folic acid and fiber, all of which promote health, and also contain antioxidants.

The potatoes were boiled – with the skin on – then placed in the fridge for 12-24 hours to maximize their fiber content. Potatoes were then included in participants’ lunch and dinner in the form of mashed potatoes, shepherd’s pie, wedges, salad and scallops.

After comparing nutrients, scientists found potatoes to be just as healthy as beans and peas.

“We have demonstrated that contrary to popular belief, potatoes do not negatively impact blood sugar levels,” Rebello said. “In fact, individuals who participated in our study lost weight.”

The study, which was published in the Journal of Medical Food, confirmed that people can still maintain a healthy diet and indulge in potatoes, challenging what was previously believed about the once cursed starch.

“People don’t usually stick to a diet that they don’t like or that doesn’t have enough variety,” the professor continued. “The meal plans offered a variety of dishes, and we showed that a healthy eating plan can have varied options for people who are striving to eat healthy.”

Obviously, carbohydrate lovers can not only eat potatoes, but it is also not necessary to do without them. In fact, potatoes are “very cheap” and fit easily into everyday meals.

Dr. John Kirwan, the study’s principal investigator and executive director of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, used the study to research the effects of food on diabetes and obesity, saying there’s more to know about “complex diseases” and how to deal with them. .

“Obesity is an incredibly complex disease that we are tackling on three different fronts: research that examines how and why our bodies react the way they do, research that examines individual responses to food and activity physical, and policy and program community level discussions that drive our research into strategies that our local and global communities can use to live healthier lives,” he said. impact of potatoes on our metabolism are an exciting addition to the arsenal of evidence we have to do just that.”