Irish potatoes are also called white potatoes and get their name for the simple reason that they were mainly grown in Ireland during the 1800 period. They are produced as a tuberous crop and are cultivated in regions with cold weather. These tuber vegetables are said to provide several health benefits.
These potato variants are rich in starch and are used widely to cook, prepare beverages, and as a thickening agent. The Irish potatoes have several phytochemicals like natural phenols and carotenoids, minerals, and vitamins B6 and C, essential for the human body. It is high in fiber content and carbohydrate content, making it the best choice for your everyday diet.
Irish potatoes can offer enough energy for your body and supply enough fuel and energy that make it an ideal choice for people on a diet. As it acts as a rich source of carbohydrates, it aids in fueling your everyday activities, such as renewal of cells, movement, digestion, and thinking.
Top 12 Health Benefits Of Irish Potatoes
The following are the best health benefits offered by Irish potatoes.
1. Fights Stress
Potatoes are rich in Vitamin B6, which is essential for maintaining your nervous system’s health, renews the body cells, and prevents mood swings. This vitamin present in the tuber helps produce neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which can regulate your mood.
This type of potato also helps in the secretion of adrenaline, which are hormones responsible for offering relaxation, happiness, lowers stress, and improves overall well being.
2. Improves Gut Health
A baked Irish potato can give you 12% fiber to an everyday diet, promoting gut health. It also has higher levels of dietary fiber and bulking agents that make it a perfect choice to improve your digestion and regularize your bowel movements.
Irish potatoes also protect your body from developing colon cancer. Ensure that you cook these potatoes with the skin, as the skin is rich in fiber content.
3. Helps You Put On Weight
Include Irish potatoes in your diet if you are too skinny and wish to improve your body weight. As it is loaded with carbohydrates and some proteins, it helps lean people look healthy by promoting their body weight. The B complex vitamin and Vitamin C in this tuber help your body absorb the carbohydrates quickly while increasing your body weight.
4. Facilitates Digestion
As discussed already, rich carbohydrates present in Irish potatoes help in quick and easy digestion. This feature makes it the right choice for babies and patients who face difficulty in digesting the foods and require energy for their activities. However, they must prevent eating many Irish potatoes, as it can develop acidity in the long run. Boiled potatoes have a considerable portion of roughage or fiber.
5. Prevents Scurvy
The Irish potatoes are rich in Vitamin C prevents the development of vitamin deficiency diseases like scurvy. It also contains other symptoms like cold, viral infections, cracked corners in lips, bleeding gums, and spongy inflamed gums.
6. Avoids Rheumatism
The presence of magnesium, vitamins, and calcium helps it provide better relief for rheumatism patients. Consuming the water obtained after boiling the potatoes can relieve the symptoms associated with this medical condition. Eating cooked potatoes would have an adverse effect and induce weight gain among rheumatic people.
7. Cures Inflammation
Irish potatoes are very effective in dealing with both external and internal inflammation issues. These white potatoes have a soft consistency when cooked. It can be digested easily and acts on the inflamed areas quickly. It is rich in antioxidants, as it contains Vitamin C to repair the wear and tear of the body cells.
It also has Vitamin B6 and potassium to relieve the digestive system inflammation and inflamed intestines. Those who have inflation in the mouth due to mouth ulcers can find adequate relief when they consume an Irish potato every day. Applying the juice of raw potatoes over inflammation caused by burns and inflammation can provide sufficient relief.
8. Lowers Blood Pressure
High blood pressure can be triggered by several conditions, such as stress, tension, anxiety, diabetes, and much more. Irish potatoes can lower blood pressure levels, as it is loaded with essential vitamins that can control stress, tension, and anxiety.
The fiber found in this vegetable lowers cholesterol and promotes insulin production in your body. This, in turn, reduces the level of blood pressure, as there is a correlation between your body’s blood glucose levels and blood pressure levels. It also performs like a vasodilator, as the potassium content in it lowers the blood pressure levels quickly.
9. Aids In Brain Functions
Your brain’s functions depend on your hormonal functions, glucose levels in the blood, and the level of oxygen supply. This tuber has a high amount of carbohydrates and maintains the blood glucose level. It will not let brain fatigue issues develop and help your brain stay alert and active.
It has iron content that helps carry the oxygen to the brain through the hemoglobin found in the blood. Plus, the presence of Vitamin B complex, zinc, and phosphorus in Irish potatoes helps brain health.
10. Promotes Heart Health
Irish potatoes can provide your body with roughages, vitamins, minerals and have substances like zeaxanthin, lutein, etc., which are very beneficial for your heart. However, consuming it in moderation is essential, as over intake of potatoes can lead to obesity, which can be fatal to your heart. So, following this method to keep heart issues at bay is not recommended for diabetic and obese people.
11. Keeps Away Kidney Stones
Renal Calculi or kidney stones develop when your blood contains excess uric acid. Irish potatoes are potent sources of calcium and iron, which can prevent stones in your kidney.
Irish potatoes can be used to treat kidney stones as it has magnesium that inhibits calcium deposition and accumulation in your body tissues and kidney. So, it is essential for patients with kidney stones can include this vegetable in their diet.
12. Treats Diarrhea
Irish potatoes are an essential part of a powerful diet for people suffering from diarrhea, as it can be digested very quickly and has roughage. Adding it to your gravies or soups will help you get quick relief from diarrhea.
Apart from these above-mentioned health benefits, Irish potatoes can also be the best treatment for treating tumors, cysts, uterine cancer, and prostate cancer. It is advisable to consume these tubers by baking them and boiling, rather than using them in fried form, as most of the vitamins will be lost when you fry them.
FAQs
1. Are Irish potatoes good for people with diabetes?
Irish potatoes have a high glycemic index, meaning they can raise blood sugar levels quickly. However, pairing them with fiber-rich foods like vegetables or beans can help manage this. If you have diabetes, eat potatoes in moderation and balance with protein or fiber. Learn more at Source.
2. Can Irish potatoes help improve gut health?
Yes, Irish potatoes contain resistant starch, especially when cooled after cooking. This type of starch acts as a prebiotic, feeding beneficial gut bacteria and promoting digestive health. Eating them cold in salads or lightly reheating them can increase resistant starch.
3. Are Irish potatoes safe to eat every day?
Yes, but it’s best to vary your diet. Potatoes are rich in nutrients, yet eating them daily without variety can limit nutrient intake from other foods. Balance potatoes with leafy greens, lean proteins, and other vegetables to meet your body’s needs.
