A study has shown that eating whole baked potatoes, which are often consumed as fried foods or other dishes and have mixed evaluations regarding health, can have significant benefits for managing blood sugar and cardiovascular health in patients with type 2 diabetes.

 

According to Professor Neda Akavan's team at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), on the 12th local time, in a randomized clinical trial, type 2 diabetes patients who ate baked potatoes instead of rice for their meals showed a slight decrease in fasting blood sugar levels and improvements in cardiovascular health indicators.

 

The research team presented these findings at the recent Nutrition 2024 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Nutrition held in Chicago.

Professor Akaban said, "People think of potatoes as fried or greasy foods, but it depends on the cooking method," and "Potatoes contain enough nutrients to help manage weight and blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes."

 

The research team conducted a clinical trial over 26 weeks, dividing 24 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who manage their blood sugar with prescribed medication into two groups. One group consumed whole baked potatoes, and the other ate plain white rice. They observed blood sugar levels, body weight, waist circumference, and various cardiovascular health indicators.

 

One group ate 100g of whole baked potatoes as part of their meal for 12 weeks, while the other group ate white rice equivalent in calories to the baked potatoes. After a two-week rest period, they switched and ate each other's foods.

 

The results of health indicator measurements at 12 and 26 weeks of the experiment showed that fasting blood glucose levels slightly decreased in participants who consumed baked potatoes, and significant reductions were also observed in body composition, waist circumference, and resting heart rate.

 

Professor Akaban said, "There was no harmful effect on the measured health indicators, and the expected cardiovascular and metabolic health benefits were confirmed," adding, "This shows that potatoes can be a healthy diet option for type 2 diabetes patients, instead of foods like white rice that have high blood sugar loads."

 

The research team emphasized that a high-potassium diet is particularly important in preventing hypertension and type 2 diabetes, noting that potatoes are one of the foods richest in dietary potassium in Western diets.

 

Professor Akaban stated that potato skins contain dietary fiber called resistant starch, which has effects on blood sugar regulation, lipid improvement, and satiety. While not opposed to boiling and eating them, he recommends baking and eating them with the skin intact to preserve as much potassium as possible.

 

The research team announced that they plan to expand their study to include a more diverse group of participants in the future to investigate the effects of including potatoes in the Mediterranean diet.

 

Professor Akaban said, "Many people are surprised to learn that potatoes have a higher potassium content than bananas," and added, "When you want to eat a banana, I recommend eating potatoes, which are one of the most filling foods."

 

 

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Are the benefits of potatoes this good?

They say it has more potassium than a banana?

 

It gives a feeling of fullness.

However, it is said that eating the skin is healthier.

I should toast some and take it with me.