5 REASONS TO MAKE POTATOES A PART OF YOUR DIET

Every state has something that defines it. For Idaho, that something is root vegetables called potatoes. Idaho’s rich volcanic soil is the perfect type of soil for potatoes to thrive. Potatoes are such a fixture in Idaho that Blackfoot pays homage to the root vegetable by acquiring the nickname “Potato Capital of the World.” At our senior living center in Idaho Falls, potatoes are one of the most popular staples served under our dining program.

One reason why potatoes are widely popular concerns the relatively lost cost of buying the root vegetable. However, the low price alone does not make potatoes a popular dish to serve at any meal. Let’s look at five reasons to make potatoes a part of your diet.

Plenty of Nutrients

At our retirement community in Idaho Falls, we emphasize the importance of serving nutritious meals. Including potatoes as part of our meals helps us achieve our nutrition goals. One medium baked potato that includes the skin delivers nearly 30 percent of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of vitamin C and about 25 percent of the RDA for vitamin B6. Potatoes also contain potassium, manganese, and magnesium.

Disease Fighting Antioxidants

Potatoes contain compounds such as flavonoids and phenolic acids that act as antioxidants, which neutralize potentially harmful molecules called free radicals. An increase in the number of free radicals can increase the risk of developing chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. One study concluded that the high amount of antioxidants in potatoes can stifle the growth of liver and colon cancer cells.

Help Control Blood Sugar

Potatoes are uniquely nutritional because they are known to contain a special type of starch called resistant starch. This type of unique starch is not broken down and fully absorbed by the body. The result is that much of the starch enters the large intestine where it produces several health benefits, including a reduction in insulin resistance that helps control blood sugar. One study demonstrated that test subjects with type 2 diabetes who consumed potatoes showed a reduction in insulin resistance.

Improved Digestive Health

The resistant starch found in potatoes also plays a role in improving digestive health. When resistant starch reaches the large intestine, it turns into food for beneficial gut bacteria, which digest it to create short-chain fatty acids. The short-chain fatty acids then reduce inflammation of the colon to strengthen the colon’s defenses against infections, as well as reduce the risk of the development of colorectal cancer.

Highly Versatile

Potatoes deliver many health benefits, but what if you do not like baked potatoes or a recipe that includes potatoes as an ingredient? The answer is potatoes represent one of the most versatile types of vegetables. You can boil, fry, steam, and bake potatoes. If frying potatoes produces too many calories, you can reduce the caloric intake by slicing a few potatoes and drizzling them in olive oil before roasting them in an oven. Potatoes are easy to include in your diet if you do a little experimenting.

Eat Healthy at Our Assisted Living Facility in Idaho Falls

You have several factors to consider before choosing a retirement community in Idaho Falls. One of the most important factors to consider concerns the meal program. At our senior living center in Idaho Falls, we emphasize the importance of eating nutritious meals that include the root vegetable potatoes.Learn more about the MorningStar commitment to nutrition by scheduling a tour of our assisted living facility in Idaho Falls.