Potato diet. Unrivaled method for weight loss or waste of time?

Potato diet does not belong among most famous methods for weight loss. But despite that many of you asked us about its effectiveness. We decided therefore that it will be best if we write few lines about this topic on our blog too. Read carefully, well and mainly: until end of article.

Why are we afraid of potatoes?

If you are fan of diet recipes and low-calorie meals, opinion according to which when reducing body weight potatoes should be avoided won't be unknown to you. As better alternative rice is mentioned for example, but winner in category of side dishes becomes of course vegetables. But let's look at energy value of potatoes. One medium piece (130-140 g) has fewer calories than cup (160 g) of rice. So why are potatoes forbidden during weight loss? And why is potato diet not popular?

Bad reputation of potatoes spread when phrase "glycemic index" came into awareness. If this value of some food is high, it means that blood sugar level rises suddenly after its consumption. It leads to strong feeling of hunger. In case of potatoes it is significant mainly if we crush them or in form of mash. However if you decide for baked or boiled potatoes in skin, this danger doesn't threaten you so much, but avoid preparation with fat or oil. Ideal will be if instead of salt you use some other spice, for example fragrant rosemary.  

Why is potato diet so tempting?

Answer to this question is very simple: because it is "forbidden" food. Imagine your favorite cake and then guide promising you weight loss thanks to this goody. Those who keep various diets all life don't see potatoes on their plates very often. Maybe rather their sweet version, i.e. sweet potatoes (taste similar to hokkaido), which are currently very popular. It is great pity because they lose valuable nutrients this way, but we will reveal more about that in following chapter of this article.  

Potato diet is attractive for us probably also for reason that in traditional Slovak menu this crop appears relatively frequently. Let's take just our national dish, sheep cheese gnocchi. Or can you imagine Slovak Christmas without potato salad? And we haven't even mentioned potato dumplings, potato pancake, potato flatbread etc. All these courses belong to such some comfort zone of gastronomic parts of our perception, well and many associate them with childhood and Sunday lunches with family.

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Are potatoes healthy?

Yes, yes and yes. Potatoes are excellent source of potassium. One piece of average size contains approximately quarter of recommended daily dose, which means that almost twice as much as one banana. Considering that this mineral substance plays key role in regulation of blood pressure and blood sugar level, moreover offers prevention of kidney stones formation, it is not negligible benefit at all.

It might surprise you, but you shouldn't eliminate potatoes from your menu even during weight loss. Although they contain lot of carbohydrates, they are rich in fiber too. It slows down absorption of glucose from vegetables, so blood sugar level doesn't jump suddenly after such meal. As we mentioned above, it matters how you consume potatoes. About half of fiber content in potatoes is in skin, think about it when preparing them. (So if potato diet is not completely tempting for you, this ingredient shouldn't be missing from your kitchen.)

Is potato diet effective then? 

Just for stated reasons we launched into survey of various sources with great enthusiasm. After reading first four articles however we asked quite confusedly: and why is this diet called potato diet? It seemed to us that it is classic way of reducing energy intake. You eat less, move more, well and besides that you have some potato meal for lunch. Proponents of this method however claim that its secret lies in reducing inflammation in body, which is supported precisely by exactly compiled menu of potato diet.

We were confused also by discrepancies regarding duration. After hours of searching we still couldn't decide how long potato diet should be kept. Some sources warned not to be longer than 3 days, some recommend potato day once a week, but we came across also much gentler attitude, according to which such "detoxification" of body can take place even several weeks. (Yes, we put quotation marks on purpose.)

They say all's well that ends well. Although we didn't find exact answer to question posed in title of this article. Again it just showed that it is much safer to create stable lifestyle, on which we can rely long-term and don't have to fear any risks, unknown consequences and experiments with own body. Let's think primarily about health, eat varied diet and move. It sounds too simple, but really it is no complicated science, so you can do it too.

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