Don’t Want Cancer? Don’t Put Your Potatoes In The Fridge

Sweet Potatoes

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Health Benefits of Potatoes

Some people have the impression that potatoes are an unhealthy food and should be avoided. But think about how potatoes are commonly served: as french fries in fast food combo meals, or greasy side dishes in sports bars (let’s not even get started on potato chips). It’s no wonder so many people think this!

But the truth is that potatoes that have been safely stored and prepared offer quite a nutritional punch. They contain B vitamins and vitamin C, as well minerals like potassium, magnesium, phosphorous and more. They also offer several different antioxidant compounds which help fight free radicals.

 

Different Types of Potatoes

Most people think of white potatoes when they hear the name, and that’s what most of the information above pertains to. But there are actually many different varieties of potatoes, each with differing levels of nutrients. One of the more difficult-to-find but very beneficial types is the purple potatoe. These offer additional health benefits, such as compounds which help lower blood pressure, and chlorogenic acid, which can help prevent blood clots. They’re also rich in fiber and contain higher levels of antioxidants and phytonutrients.

There are also sweet potatoes, which are one the most nutritious starchy vegetables you can buy. But these are actually an entirely different vegetable than a typical potato, so the name can be somewhat misleading. (And no, they aren’t yams, either. Yams are also a different vegetable unto themselves, but this is a different story for a different day.)

 

READ ALSO: Vitamin D And Cancer Risk

 

One of the final benefits of potatoes doesn’t pertain to their health properties, but their culinary ones. Potatoes are one of the most versatile foods you can eat. There’s just so much you can do with them, you’ll never run out different recipes to try. Just be sure to store them properly and not to overcook them, and you can be reasonably assured that you’re getting more pros than cons from making potatoes a part of a balanced, healthy diet.

References:

www.cancer.org

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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One Comment

  1. Tudval

    May 8, 2017 at 4:13 pm

    But frozen potatoes are ubiquitous, no mention of that?