Contents:
- Medical Video: 6 Foods That Naturally Cleanse the Liver
- Various benefits of potatoes that you can get
- 1. Contains antioxidants
- 2. Helps control blood sugar
- 3. Good for digestion
- 4. Gluten free
- 5. Maintain normal blood pressure
- 6. Maintain healthy nervous system and brain function
- 7. Maintain heart health
Medical Video: 6 Foods That Naturally Cleanse the Liver
Potatoes are a popular source of carbohydrates as a substitute for rice. Types of tubers that have the Latin name Solanum tuberosum are relatively easy to process and create into a variety of opening, main, and closing menus which are of course delicious. Not only delicious, you can get various goodness in it. What are the benefits of potatoes for health? Check out the review below.
Various benefits of potatoes that you can get
1. Contains antioxidants
Potatoes are very rich in flavonoids, gumonoid and phenolic acids. These compounds act as antioxidants in the body which will prevent free radicals from appearing which usually damage the body's cells.
In fact, a collection of free radicals is believed to be one of the risk factors for various chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Research in Nutrition and Cancer in 2011 showed that antioxidants in potatoes can suppress the growth of liver and colon cancer cells.
Therefore, to reduce the risk of all these diseases, you can eat potatoes.
2. Helps control blood sugar
Many say that potatoes are bad for diabetics, whereas the opposite is true. Another benefit of potatoes is to help control sugar in the blood, so this one source of carbohydrates is quite safe for people with diabetes.
Potatoes contain a lot of starch which is called resistant starch which cannot be absorbed completely by the body. When resistant starch enters the large intestine, this starch will be a source of nutrition for good bacteria in the intestine. Research suggests that resistant starch can make insulin work, the hormone controlling blood sugar, becomes more optimal.
In addition, a 2015 study in Medicine (Baltimore) conducted in people with type two diabetes also showed that after eating foods with resistant starch, blood sugar proved to be more stable
Interestingly, you can also increase the content of potato-resistant starch by storing boiled potatoes in the refrigerator overnight and eating them while cold.
3. Good for digestion
It is still related to the content of resistant starch which potatoes have which can help improve the digestive system. So when it enters the intestine, this resistant starch will be eaten by good bacteria. Then, the good bacteria will turn it into short chain fatty acids.
Now, these short chain fatty acids that have a myriad of health benefits, for example can reduce the risk of inflammation in the large intestine, strengthen the defense of the large intestine, and reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. In addition, chain fatty acids from resistant starch are also very important to help people who are experiencing intestinal infections, such as Crohn's disease, or diverticulitis.
4. Gluten free
The substance in potatoes is also gluten free. Gluten is a type of protein found in grains, such as wheat seeds. For people who experience problems in processing gluten like celiac disease, potatoes can be the right choice.
Even though it's gluten free, but not all food recipes from potatoes are truly gluten free. Some potato dishes contain gluten like in sauces, or potato bread. If you have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, be sure to read the complete ingredient list first.
5. Maintain normal blood pressure
Another important benefit of potatoes is to help stabilize blood pressure. Reported on the Live Science page, potatoes are a good source of potassium, even more in number than bananas.
Potassium is a mineral that can help lower blood pressure by stimulating blood vessels to expand its size. In addition, potatoes also contain calcium and magnesium, which also play a role in controlling normal blood pressure.
Reported on the Live Science website, the Institute for Food Research has found that potatoes contain chemicals called kukoamines, which are also related to lowering blood pressure.
6. Maintain healthy nervous system and brain function
Vitamin B6 in potatoes is very important to maintain the health of neurons or nerves. Vitamin B6 helps create brain chemicals, including serotonin, dopamine and noreprinefrin according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
This means that eating potatoes can help overcome depression or stress. In addition, potassium in potatoes that can encourage blood vessel dilation also helps ensure the brain gets enough blood.
7. Maintain heart health
Carotenoids in potatoes help maintain heart function properly. Vitamins C and B6 also help reduce free radicals in heart cells and other body cells. Vitamin B6 also has an important role in the process in the body called the methylation process.
This process is one of its functions to convert homocysteine, a dangerous molecule into methionine, the structure of new components in proteins. Too much homocysteine can damage the walls of blood vessels and the higher levels have to do with the increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
