Studies have linked potatoes and their nutrients to a variety of impressive health benefits, including improved blood sugar control, reduced heart disease risk and higher immunity. They may also improve digestive health and combat signs of aging.
The iron, phosphorous, calcium, magnesium, and zinc in potatoes all help the body to build and maintain bone structure and strength. Iron and zinc play crucial roles in the production and maturation of collagen.
An answer is that at only 100 calories per spud, they’re an incredible source of vitamins and minerals (they even pack more vitamin C than tomatoes and oranges). These starchy veggies contain 60 different kinds of phytochemicals and vitamins in their skins and flesh, and sweet potatoes are even more nutritious .
What are the nutritional benefits of potatoes?
As well as providing starch, an essential component of the diet, potatoes are rich in vitamin C, high in potassium and an excellent source of fiber. In fact, potatoes alone supply every vital nutrient except calcium, vitamin A and vitamin D .
While researching we ran into the inquiry “What are the health benefits of eating purple potatoes?”.
One source proposed a diet high in antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables lowers your risk of heart disease and cancer . To get the most out of potatoes, leave the skins on and choose colorful types such as purple potatoes.
Why was the potato so important to the Irish?
While the potato was rapidly becoming an important food across Europe, in Ireland it was frequently the only food . Many Irish survived on milk and potatoes alone — the two together provide all essential nutrients — while others subsisted on potatoes and water.
Another question we ran across in our research was “Why is the potato so important to mountain cultures?”.
The mountain cultures differed strikingly from one another, but all were nourished by tuber and root crops , the potato most important. Wild potatoes are laced with solanine and tomatine, toxic compounds believed to defend the plants against attacks from dangerous organisms like fungi, bacteria and human beings.
Should you eat the skin of a potato?
To get the most out of potatoes, leave the skins on and choose colorful types such as purple potatoes. The more color in the potato, the more antioxidants it contains. On top of that, the skin of the potato can have up to 12 times more antioxidants than the flesh. So, don’t be afraid to eat your potato skins .
The next thing we wondered was; what are the health benefits of baked potato skin?
Well, baked potato skin is a great source of potassium and magnesium . When you don’t have enough potassium in your diet, your body retains extra sodium, and too much sodium raises your blood pressure. A potassium rich diet can help decrease blood pressure, protecting the heart and reducing the risk of stroke.