He ate only potatoes every day for a year (know what happened)

Potatoes are grown in more than 100 countries and the main producers are China, the United States, India, Russia and Ukraine. In Brazil, annual consumption is about 15 kilos per person per year. And despite its enormous popularity, potatoes are generally not considered the healthiest food in the world, mainly because, for many people, those who eat too much can put on weight. But perhaps this idea came about only because of the French fries, always present in restaurants of the fast food🇧🇷

The Incredible.club decided to research whether or not eating potatoes every day is harmful. The result left us quite perplexed.

Potatoes appeared here in South America, more precisely in the Andes, in the region now occupied by Bolivia and Peru. Its use began around 9,000 BC.

Potato skin is rich in potassium, a substance that contributes to maintaining the health of our heart. In addition, the tuber has a much lower amount of phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, sodium, iron and zinc. It contains a lot of vitamin C (approximately 45% of the recommended amount per day in just one potato). But most of it is eliminated by heating it up; so the boiled potatoes with skin are always more nutritious.
In addition, for every 100 g of the tuber, approximately 2 g of dietary fiber are obtained, which is necessary to maintain good intestinal health.

In its original state, there is no cholesterol in the potatoes. But depending on the method of preparation (for example, if we use olive oil), we will be ‘adding’ ourselves, in general what happens with French fries and other fried foods. Potatoes can improve skin condition and are highly recommended in the fight against stress and depression.

Unlike many other high-carb side dishes, boiled potatoes without the skin are more efficient to satisfy hunger🇧🇷 As a result, we eat less but feel full longer; that is, they can help us lose weight.

Sometimes the consumption of potatoes and their derivatives can lead to weight gain🇧🇷 This happens mainly when we eat fried foods or when they are served with other products with more fat, such as cheese or sour cream. But for these combinations to cause serious problems, you would have to eat a very large amount. People diabetic should eat potatoes with caution: many of their varieties have a high glycemic index. If the dish is left cold, its impact on the sugar level is reduced by up to 25%.

In general, few women would like to see their breasts reduced. But properly prepared potatoes make it the healthiest daily accompaniment, and little by little we eliminate part of the fat deposits scattered throughout the body. But the layer of fat is the element on which the breast volume🇧🇷 So this is bad news for some women.

It is better not to consume potatoes with a green color. These tubers contain a lot of poisonous solanine, the level of which almost does not decrease during the cooking phase. But there’s no need to panic; it is very unlikely that anything will happen from eating a slightly green potato. You’ve probably noticed how hard it is to stop eating after a serving of potato chips. As a result, we eat more than we wanted (or what we should). And some people’s passion for food fast foodwhich usually includes potatoes, makes them gain weight quickly.

Therefore, potatoes can be considered a healthy food.

In 2016, Andrew Taylor from Melbourne (via the Spud Fit YouTube channel) decided to look for an answer to this question. The Australian started by buying 6 kg of potatoes. According to him, they would offer more or less 99% of calories needed. The rest would come from seasonings, sauces and other foods like garlic, soy milk and the like.

Andrew wanted to start doing some form of physical activity, fight obesity, and eliminate the urge to overeat. His idea was to perceive food as fuel for the body and not as a luxury. He did a lot of research on the tuber and talked to his nutritionist. Together they decided that they would stop the experiment if he got sick.

“9 months on a potato-only diet.

Before: 151.7 kg. After: 101.5 kg”.

Every now and then, Taylor had blood tests. The cholesterol and sugar levels were normal. At the same time, he played sports and started to feel very good. In 9 months, he managed to lose 50.2 kg.

Andrew rose to the challenge and followed this diet year-round. At the end, lost a total of 53.2 kg🇧🇷 He was interviewed several times, appeared on television and even wrote two books: one on cooking and the other on overcoming an addiction to eating.

Even in the face of Andrew’s success, scientific opinion was not very optimistic about the experiment itself. The experts’ restriction is quite justifiable: any diet based on just one product (however healthy it may be) tends to create imbalances, as it will lack some nutrients. With a potato-based diet, the daily portions are very limited, as the body receives fewer vitamins (A, E and K) and minerals (calcium and selenium), which are not present in this food, or appear in small amounts. In addition, potatoes contain a minimum of protein and fatty acids. The former are necessary to maintain the immune system, help regulate weight and build muscle mass. On the other hand, healthy fats nourish the skin, hair and nails.

The protagonist of today’s post has undergone a major change, but what would have happened if he had followed a diet that included other foods?

Would you live on potatoes alone?