Is it Really Too Much to Eat Potatoes Trigger Hypertension?

Medical Video: 7 Foods You Should Never Eat If You Have High Blood Pressure

Potatoes are one of the foods that are often consumed. Besides being rich in carbohydrates and calories, potatoes are also very easy to get. Potatoes are actually rich in potassium, which can reduce blood pressure. However, even though potassium can help reduce blood, consuming too much potatoes also has a negative effect on long-term blood pressure.

Indeed this research is only at an early stage, but this discovery could be a debate as to whether it is good to consume large portions of potatoes.

Different ways to cook potatoes, the effects are different

Scientists at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Massachusetts examined the relationship between the amount of consumption of potatoes and blood pressure. The team of scientists examined the consumption of potatoes in various types of processing, ranging from pounding, boiling, frying, baking, or in the form of chips. These data were taken from 187,453 residents in America over the past 20 years. Every 4 years, the study participants will complete the questionnaire about how often they eat certain foods. In addition, the researchers also asked participants to report their blood pressure. The researchers determined weight, physical activity, eating habits, and cigarettes as control factors (factors made the same in the study).

Uniquely, how to process and cook potatoes has different effects. For example, if you eat potatoes that are pounded, baked, or boiled 4 servings in a week, then the risk of your chances of getting high blood pressure will increase compared to those who consume 1 serving a week. However, this only happens to women. Furthermore, the researchers also found that if you replace one portion of potatoes that are baked, boiled, or pounded with a serving of vegetables that do not contain carbohydrates, then your risk of developing hypertension will decrease.

The story is different with french fries. The more you eat fried potatoes, the higher the risk of hypertension is higher. This can occur in both men and women.

Even more surprising, there is no increase in the risk of hypertension if you eat large amounts of potato chips. In fact, in men, eating lots of potato chips can reduce the risk of high blood pressure.

How can potatoes increase blood pressure?

Potatoes have a higher glycemic index (speed of food absorbed by blood) than other vegetables. This can result in increased blood sugar in the body. Rising blood sugar alone (or often called hyperglycemia) has been shown to be associated with oxidative pressure, endothelial dysfunction, and inflammation. These three things can be the cause of the increased risk of high blood pressure.

Still need further research about this

Keep in mind that this research is research in the observation phase, which means that further research is needed to ascertain it. This is based on filling out questionnaires, which may be that the participants do not answer them honestly, or answer them subjectively, especially if the questionnaire is related to eating habits. So is the case with blood pressure, because the researchers did not measure the blood pressure themselves from the participants, so there might be an error during the blood pressure reporting process.

The scientists also reminded the importance of overall eating habits, not only measuring one type of food specifically. For example, the glycemic index in potatoes varies depending on the variety and method of processing potatoes themselves. As already mentioned, different methods of processing potatoes, the difference is also the effect on your body. Furthermore, the length of the processing process and the types of other complementary oils or spices used also have an effect. In addition, the amount of protein and fiber you consume also has an effect on the overall glycemic index.

However, this research is quite important to learn more about because this discovery can help you to cope with high blood pressure. Researchers will continue to learn about the relationship between potatoes and blood pressure. It should be noted that determining the type of food and the amount of food consumed by each person is something that is very difficult to measure accurately. Therefore, it can be rather difficult to apply or measure the type and amount of food to fit everyone's nutrition appropriately, including about potatoes. However, this research can help nutritionists or nutrition regulators in making guidelines about eating habits and the risk of the disease.

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