Purple potatoes are a variety of potato with purple-colored skin and flesh which originate from Bolivia and Peru. They have a medium to starchy texture and offer a more earthy and nutty flavor than ordinary white potatoes. Their vibrant color also means that they are packed with plenty of antioxidants, something that white potatoes can never compete with!

Not only does this vegetable add a pop of color to your plate but they have also been linked to having multiple health benefits, such as reducing blood pressure, increasing weight loss, and preventing depression.

They can be boiled, roasted, sautéed, baked, mashed, blended and added to soups and salads.

Here are 10 Health Benefits of Purple Potatoes:

1. Supports Natural Weight Loss

The daily recommended amount of dietary fiber is 25 grams for women and 38 grams for men, but data from the American Heart Association shows that most people are not meeting even 50% of this amount. Insufficient fiber intake is associated with increasing the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and digestive disorders.

Purple potatoes are a healthy high-fiber food source, containing both soluble and insoluble fiber. By increasing the number of purple potatoes in your diet, you will be increasing the amount of dietary fiber, which will support natural weight loss, excellent digestion, and will even help to lower your cholesterol.

They are also low in calories and contain no fat, which makes them the perfect choice for weight loss plans.

2. Helps to Reduce Blood Pressure

A 2012 study at the American Chemical Society discovered that purple potatoes were a natural solution for lowering blood pressure, most likely due to the high concentration of a phytochemical known as chlorogenic acid.

Consumers of purple potatoes in the study lowered their blood pressure by 3-4% and experienced no weight gain. They are also an excellent source of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, which helps to regulate circulation and keeps capillaries and arteries in the cardiovascular system healthy.

3. Reduces the Risk of Blood Clots

Research published in the Journal of Biochemical and Molecular Toxicology found that the chlorogenic acid in purple potatoes helped to prevent thrombosis (blood clotting), which is one of the leading causes of death in the world.

Chlorogenic acid was found to delay the development of blood clots and to break them down by inhibiting the enzymatic activity of certain proteins and peptides.

4. Excellent for Eyes

Purple potatoes are packed with antioxidants and phytonutrients which help to prevent age-related macular degeneration. The antioxidants also help to reduce free radical damage caused by the sun, environmental pollution, smoke, alcohol, and pesticides.

They also contain phosphorous, which helps to prevent night blindness, cataracts, and eye-related infections.

5. Natural Anti-Aging

Anthocyanins are phytonutrients that give purple potatoes their vibrant color. They have been found to contain more than 150 flavonoids, which have been proven to reduce the visible signs of aging and help to prevent free-radical damage to healthy cells in the body.

They also help to prevent collagen loss, which keeps your skin looking younger for longer by keeping the skin tissues tight and free from pigmentation and oxidation.

6. Reduces Fluid Retention

Just one cup of purple potatoes contains 8% of the daily recommended amount of magnesium and potassium, which helps to keep fluid levels balanced and prevents swelling, bloating, and edema.

7. Provides Plenty of Energy

The excellent amount of insoluble fiber makes this type of potato the perfect choice for sustaining high energy levels for long periods of time, which is particularly useful for athletes.

The potassium also contains electrolytes which help to fuel the muscles of the body, offering longer-lasting strength and stamina.

8. Great Immune Booster

2 cups of diced purple potatoes contain as much as 44% of the daily recommended amount of Vitamin C, which is excellent for boosting the immune system.

Sufficient intake of Vitamin C helps to keep the body alkalized and energized while preventing colds and flu and helps to keep cells functioning at their optimum.

Read More at Healthyhubb.com