Why Should You Eat Purple Potatoes? Here are Some of the Benefits
Experts advise that if one eats purple potatoes frequently, they'll get a lot of health benefits.
People who have already eaten purple potatoes describe their taste quite similar to regular spuds but have a creamier texture.
The good thing about these extraordinary-looking potatoes is the fact that they are purple inside and out. Yes, their skin and flesh are both in purple color, which means they are packed with pigments containing antioxidant properties.
According to many nutrition and diet experts, it is a great idea to stop reaching for the peeler every time you want to serve guests and loved ones with purple potatoes on the table.
More so, experts advise that you eat them more frequently due to their health benefits. Yes, even different studies have proven the benefits we can get from purple potatoes.
Purple Potatoes for CVD
Various scientific investigations indicate the chlorogenic acid found in purple potatoes works efficiently in blood pressure regulation.
Almost everyone knows that regulating hypertension is of maximum importance as, if left uncontrolled, it can lead to substantial impairment to the heart, as well as your body's many other organs.
One more reason why eating purple potatoes may reduce one's risk of developing CVD is that they contain a lot of fiber, helping in flushing out bad cholesterol or LDL in the bloodstream.
Indeed, no one, including you, would want to collect and store bad cholesterol as it can lead to arterial clogging, possibly resulting in a stroke or heart attack.
And, when it comes to stroke, according to scientists, including purple potatoes in the regular diet may help protect against the blood clot formation that can hinder the oxygenated blood's supply to the brain.
Experts say chlorogenic acid makes purple potatoes ideal in preventing the formation of a blood clot.
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Health Benefits of These 'Starchy' Treats
Nutrition and diet experts claim, for the majority of the whole foods, the darker and deeper the color, the higher the antioxidant level.
So, what's making these potatoes purple are anthocyanins, a flavonoid type that has been associated with a lower risk of many chronic illnesses.
Flavonoids are described as a class of compounds which have antioxidant effects. Here's a tip from most experts: Eat the skin to get the maximum benefits for your body.
A study The Journal of Nutrition published shows that men who consume purple potatoes instead of white potatoes in equal amounts every day for six straight weeks have higher carotenoids, anthocyanins, and phenolic acid levels than those who consumed the latter. These are all considered disease-preventing antioxidants.
Over time, this might be associated with lower blood pressure, cholesterol level, and decreased decrease for a heart ailment. Not only that. The men in the study who ate purple potatoes were found to have less inflammation.
Furthermore, a Plant Foods for Human Nutrition study found that in just two weeks of eating one medium-sized purple potato every day, instead of one medium white potato, it substantially lowered blood pressure.
Separate research in the Food & Function journal found that higher antioxidant levels in these dark-colored potatoes may be linked to a lower glycemic index.
There are different ways to cook and eat purple potatoes. But however you want them eaten-baked, boiled, mashed, roasted, or even fried-they all taste great!
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Sep 22, 2020 08:00 AM EDT
