Potatoes get you in the pink of health

Where: Spain

June 25, 2007: Word’s just in: potatoes are good for you. But, you may still have to hold off on those fries you’ve been eyeing. Turns out, potatoes are best eaten in a cold salad, and not drowned in oil.

A team of Spanish researchers say that eating potatoes could have a beneficial effect on the body’s immune system. They’re rich in vitamin C and B-complex, have good doses of minerals like iron, calcium, managanese, magnesium and phosphorus, and believe it or not, are great for the tummy.

How did the researchers figure all this out? Well, they fed some growing pigs huge amounts of raw potato starch, and it turns out that after pigging out on all that starch, the creatures actually looked in the pink of health.

While humans don’t normally eat raw potatoes, it turns out we do (or can) eat food that is high in resistent starch, stuff that is not digested in the small intestine and is then pushed along to the large intestine where it ferments. Which is a good thing, regardless of how it sounds.

These “good” food would be cold boiled potatoes, legumes, grains, green bananas, pasta and cereals. Hey! That doesn’t sound too bad. So, what are you waiting for?

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Readability: Grade 7 (12-13 year old children)
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Filed under: world news
Tags: #health, #potatoes

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