Potatoes can be beneficial for you GUT HEALTH!

Potatoes can be beneficial to your gut health...what? Did you know this?

With the low carb movement taking over the internet, it’s easy to see those starchy carb heavy potatoes as a benefit to our bodies.  I am here to tell you that with the right preparation, POTATOES can do wonders for your gut health.

The key to getting the benefit from potatoes is to unpack the Resistant Starch benefits from the food.  Resistant starches are foods that do not break down in your digestive track and are considered prebiotics-meaning they feed the good gut bugs in your digestive system.  We want these good gut bugs to flourish as they help break down and digest our foods.  The more good gut bugs we have, the more they will crowd out the bad gut bugs we do not want. 

The benefits of consuming resistant starch include:

• the reduction of inflammation in the colon by helping to lower the colon pH 
• supporting the repair of digestive dysfunctions including symptoms related to both IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and IBD (irritable bowel diseases such as Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis) 
• the potential increase in the absorption of minerals
• improved insulin sensitivity for blood sugar management and control

In the colon or large intestine, much resistant starch is converted to short chain fatty acids called butyrate. Butyrate not only helps the colon to rebuild, repair and replenish, but it helps to lower cancer risk and increase the population of good colon bacteria to ward off disease. Butyrate is like a superfood for your colon and resistant starch is how you deliver that superfood!

The key to unlocking the superpower of these foods is to COOK THEM AND LET THEM COOL.

Foods that contain resistant starch include: 

• cooked and cooled potatoes (potato flour and/or starch) 
• green bananas 
• green plantains (and their flour) 
• legumes such as lentils and chickpeas 
• cashews
• raw oats

Potato salad sounds like a win for optimizing the resistant starches in your potatoes.  

This recipe sounds amazing and full of some much good nutrition: https://foodbornewellness.com/whole30-potato-salad-no-mayo-or-egg/

In summary, don’t be afraid of the potato, just be sure to cook it and cool it to optimize the health benefits for your gut health and your gut bugs.