C. Booth
Last Updated on January 7, 2021
We all have heard about the vitamins in potato skin and other health benefits that we can gain from consuming potatoes. True, potatoes contain a beneficial combination of vitamin B6, potassium, vitamin C and magnesium.
However, they make cause you problems in maintaining normal blood glucose levels; in other words, they may spike your blood sugar.
Also, one of the main problems with potatoes is the way they are prepared, there is a way that you can benefit from in terms of diseases prevention, and another that may cause a countereffect and leave you with all kinds of health issues; including early death.
In this article, we will introduce you to some of the biggest health issues with consuming potatoes regularly. Some of the problems in our list leave you without any desire to consume potatoes ever in your life.
You will also be introduced to some facts about the components of potato that you probably never knew before.
#1 – Gain Weight
© Health.harvard.eduIf you are following a weight loss program and you are consuming potatoes regularly, you can forget about your wish to lose weight.
A Harvard study that took 12 years to be concluded and included 120,000 participants found that whatever the ways to make potatoes that were followed, participants who consumed it gained an average of 1.3 extra pounds.
And the numbers just get worse when it comes to fried potatoes with participants even gaining more pounds. This may come across as a surprise to so many people since we don’t usually think about potatoes as a part of fattening foods.
#2 – Potatoes Contain Toxins
© Poison ControlSo you think that your body is full of toxins and you are looking for the body cleanser, but then you try to eat a good looking potato, here you should certainly refrain yourself.
What you need to be aware of is that potatoes may develop glycoalkaloids when being exposed to light, this weirdly-named substance becomes toxic when consumed. Have ever noticed that a potato may get green sometimes?
Well, that is the potato sending you a warning that it contains solanine and chaconine. Even worse, these toxins can be present in potatoes without developing that green color.
#3 – Fried Potatoes May Cause Cancer
© PexelsFried potato recipes are one of the most famous and fun recipes in cooking shows and cooking websites. And fried potatoes are just fun for the whole family.
We all know that fried stuff are unhealthy snacks; however, what most people are not aware of is the fact that fried potatoes may cause them cancer.
The reason why they may harm you in such a way is that they tend to produce a chemical called acrylamide when baked, roasted, or fried at a high temperature. And research has shown that the people who consume fried potatoes regularly are at more risk of dying early than people who don’t consume it.
#4 – It Spikes Blood Sugar
© BondStreetConsultantsIf you are suffering from type 2 diabetes symptoms, then it is better to cut potatoes altogether. Maybe you would notice that your glucometer goes high every time you eat a meal with potatoes.
That s because potatoes are among foods that raise blood sugar levels due to their high glycemic index. That is why it is recommended against eating potatoes even for regular people because it spikes insulin levels and digests quickly.
Also, you will feel hungry soon and you will have to consume more food. The results of consuming potatoes may be overeating as well as heart diseases, obesity, and diabetes.
#5 – It Is Difficult To Control Portions
© Roth CheeseIt is not that hard to overeat potato products, which could be harmful to the best diet plan that you have opted for. Home fries, especially French fries, and fried chips, could be addictive; which due to the fact that your system will digest potatoes quickly.
Even you want to go healthy and opt for baked potatoes; it is difficult to choose the right portion that won’t end up harming your body.
generally speaking, you may measure one serving of potatoes by comparing its size to the size of a standard computer mouse. And when you want to have French fries, make sure you stick to just ½ cup.
#6 – Potatoes Are Full Of Pesticides
© It’s MomSenseThe USDA confirms that there are 35 types of pesticides that were discovered in traditional potatoes. Even worse, 6 of these pesticides are carcinogens, 7 are neurotoxins, 12 are hormone disruptors and 6 can have bad effects on reproductive health.
What makes matters even more terrible is the fact that farmers spray potatoes 3 times during its production, after being dug up, during the growing season and before they get harvested.
So you can imagine how much terrible it can get if all of the sprayed stuff got to your system or when a woman suffers from food poisoning when pregnant with a child.
Bonus
– Although not edible, the stems, leaves, and branches of potatoes may get poisonous.
– Be careful not to consume the eyes, or sprouts, of the potatoes; since they too may get poisonous.
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