4 ways eating potatoes can help you reach your weight loss goals

Potatoes have always been linked to weight gain but potatoes are actually not your enemy. How you eat them whether baked or fried, with veggies or without veggies is what matters. A study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition says people who followed healthy recipes and had potatoes in their meals around five times a week lost weight. Still finding it hard to believe? Here are ways potatoes can help hit your weight loss goals.

They prevent you from overeating: Potatoes top the list of foods that are filling. It may take ten crackers to fill you up as much as a single potato. Eating potatoes satiates you and automatically prevents you from overeating. Potatoes are rich in fibre and starch which slow down digestion and thus keep you feeling full for long. A medium sized potato also contains 4.3 g of protein which is way more than most vegetables, says nutritionist Urvashi Sawhney.

They are moderately low in calories: One medium sized potato contains just 150 calories. However, the number of calories you consume depends on how you cook the potato. Try serving them baked or boiled with poached and baked beans instead of frying them. These delicious recipes can make weight loss fun. 

They fuel you before workouts: Since potatoes are rich in carbohydrates, they can fuel you with all the energy you need for better workout results. According to a study published in the journal Sports Magazine, carbohydrates can boost your performance in high-intensity interval training and marathon training. And better performance converts to more calories burned. Unlike other carbohydrate sources, potatoes contain enough fibre to keep your blood sugar levels steady, so you have nothing to worry.

The complex carbohydrate facilitates weight loss: Potatoes are complex carbohydrates that can improve your blood sugar control which in turn promote insulin resistance and lead to weight loss suggests a study published in the journal Nutrition. You can, in fact, replace your white bread and white pasta with potatoes.

However, make sure that you do not overdo with eating potatoes and stick to just one medium sized one per meal and also stick to eating it in just one meal.

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