Potatoes: Top 5 Health Benefits!

You will find them on your dinner table most nights, they accompany most meals, and they taste absolutely delicious. However, these days with a spike in the health and fitness industry, potatoes are becoming somewhat of a villain on our dinner plates. Over the years we have began to look at these spuds as a fat loss fiend but keep reading to find out why potatoes are really the heroes of our weeknight dinners in Potatoes: Top 5 Health Benefits!

1. Boosts Athletic Performance

Potatoes are high in vitamin B6; a super vitamin that is responsible for a whole plethora of health benefits particularly the breakdown of glycogen, the form in which sugar is stored in our muscle cells and liver. They also contain high levels of sodium and potassium which are known to restore electrolyte balance. As a result, this vitamin is an obvious key player in athletic performance and endurance.

2. Minimises Inflammation

Inflammation is one of those things that can easily come out of nowhere and hinder our day to day performance. Lucky for us, anti-inflammatory nutrients in potatoes have been found to soothe stomach ulcers and reduce stomach acidity. New studies have also begun to find that they may also relieve the inflammation associated with deteriorative conditions such as arthritis.

3. Strong Bones

The iron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc found in potatoes are known to contribute to the building and maintenance of bone structure and strength. Iron and zinc in particular play a crucial role in the production of collagen which helps to build bones and discourage bone deterioration. Over time this can even lessen the likelihood of bone weakening disorders like osteoporosis.

4. Skin Care

Marie Antoinette made potatoes a beauty statement when she wondered the street with potato flowers amidst her hair and with over 80 nutrients that include vitamin C, vitamin B6, magnesium and zinc, potatoes have been proven to help keep skin blissfully smooth and radiant since the 1700’s!

5. Restful Sleep

Tryptophan found in potatoes acts as a natural sedative and when paired with potassium (which serves as a natural muscle relaxant) the likelihood of a restful night sleep is inevitable. One baked potato stimulates enough potassium and serotonin to calm the brain and promote stress reduction throughout the entire evening.

All in all, I think it is safe to say that potatoes really do offer so much more than meets the eye. Keep in mind though that this is not a greenlight to invite more French fries and crisps into your diet! Keep it fresh, keep it clean (boiled, roasted, baked, steamed, grilled, jacketed, mashed…) and you can’t go wrong. Let us know your favourite way to cook spuds in the comments below or join in the conversation on FacebookTwitter Instagram!

Krista Emilia

Krista is currently in training for the British stunt register with an extensive training background in snowsports, gymnastics and mixed martial arts. She is passionate about the changes sweeping the health and fitness industry having been a part of the process for 4 years working as a full-time food photographer and writer. Creative training and nutrition goes hand in hand for her so is her mission to share information with others about an active lifestyle in the pursuit of a happy and healthy future!

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