Are Raw Potatoes Bad for You? Debunking Myths
– Raw potatoes have a bitter taste and starchy texture compared to cooked potatoes.
– Raw potatoes are high in resistant starch, which provides energy for beneficial gut bacteria and has potential health benefits such as lowering blood sugar levels, improving insulin sensitivity, promoting weight loss, and improving digestive health.
– Resistant starch is converted into butyrate, which can suppress inflammation in the colon and block the growth of colon cancer cells.
– Treatment with butyrate may also help decrease symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
– Raw potatoes contain fewer calories, carbs, protein, and potassium compared to baked potatoes.
– Raw potatoes are significantly higher in vitamin C, with twice as much vitamin C per gram compared to baked potatoes.
– Potatoes contain antinutrients like protein trypsin inhibitor and lectins, which can interfere with nutrient absorption. Cooking potatoes helps reduce antinutrient content for better absorption of nutrients.
– Potatoes can contain toxic compounds called glycoalkaloids, particularly green potatoes. High consumption of glycoalkaloids can cause symptoms like drowsiness, itchiness, and digestive issues. Boiling, baking, and microwaving potatoes can reduce glycoalkaloid levels.
– Raw potatoes, due to high levels of resistant starch, can contribute to digestive problems such as gas and bloating. They may also harbor contaminants.
– Eating raw potatoes in high amounts may cause digestive issues like stomach discomfort, gas, and bloating. This is because raw potatoes may contain bacteria from the soil that is usually destroyed by cooking.
– Eating raw potatoes may not be advisable as they contain solanine and lectins, which can cause gastric distress and potentially make a person sick. Solanine is a poisonous compound that can cause symptoms such as nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, dizziness, and headaches. Lectins are proteins that can cause nausea, upset stomach, vomiting, and diarrhea when consumed in large amounts.
– Feeding raw potatoes to dogs is also dangerous due to the presence of solanine. Baked or broiled potatoes are safer options for dogs.