Are potatoes harmful? There is no longer any doubt

The study, published in The Journal of Nutrition showed that eating potatoes reduces the risk of mortality from general diseases and mortality from cardiovascular diseases in adults.

Potatoes are healthy after all, aren't they?

Potatoes are, at least in Poland, a staple food and an element of the traditional diet. But other countries, such as Scandinavian countries, France and Switzerland, also love potatoes and willingly eat them. For this reason too are one of the most frequently consumed vegetables in the world.

Despite the fact that potatoes contain a number of essential nutrients, They are not a recommended vegetable at all, due to their high starch content. Potato consumption has even been linked to the risk of cardiometabolic diseases because they have a high glycemic index.

However, the latest research conducted in Norway recommends including potatoes in your regular diet. No quantitative recommendations yet.

What did the research show?

A total of 77,297 adults aged 18-64 were surveyed. They took part in three cardiovascular screening studies conducted between 1974 and 1988. What is important, Food frequency questionnaires were used at each study to collect dietary information. The data collected was used to calculate weekly potato intake and daily cumulative average intake. Information about health and lifestyle factors was also collected from the respondentssuch as physical activity or smoking.

All information on overall mortality and mortality related to circulatory system diseases was obtained from the Norwegian Cause of Death Register. Detailed analyzes were also carried out for the purpose determining the relationship between mortality risk and potato consumption.

The research results are optimistic

It turned out that men were bigger potato lovers than women. Study participants who ate more potatoes, although they smoked more often, were physically active and less likely to be obese compared to people who ate fewer potatoes. A higher incidence of diabetes was also observed in people who consumed small amounts of potatoes.

68% of respondents ate six to seven meals containing potatoes a week. At the start of the study, the average number of potatoes consumed each week was 13, with 90% of subjects eating at least two potatoes per meal.

The observation period was 33 years, during which time 27,848 deaths were announced among 77,297 subjects. Participants who ate 14 potatoes a week (or more) had a lower risk of mortality. Taking into account daily intake, a 4% reduction in cardiovascular disease mortality was observed for each daily increase in potato consumption.

It should be remembered that the current study covers the Norwegian population and their diet in the 1970s and 1980s, but the research results are thought-provoking. The consumption frequency survey questionnaires did not include questions about processed potato products (except chips), which are now abundant in stores. Research showed that 80% of dinners were served with boiled potatoes, considered a high-quality source of carbohydrates with a lower glycemic index. Various preparation methods are known to affect the nutritional profile of potatoes.

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