Potatoes can boost your exercise performance: Study
01. Potatoes can boost your exercise performance: Study
Potatoes have always had a bad reputation. Most of us consider them as fattening. But the findings of this new study might surprise you.
According to a new study, consuming potato puree during prolonged exercise works exactly well as a commercial carbohydrate gel in sustaining blood glucose levels and boosting performance in trained athletes.
02. How potatoes can boost performance?
Potatoes are one of the best bets for athletes as they are a cost-effective, rich in nutrients and whole food source of carbohydrates. The study was published in the Journal of Applied Physiology.
Another good thing about potatoes is they serve as a savoury race fuel option as compared to the high sweetness of the carbohydrate gels.
03. The study
The research included 12 participants who were healthy, fit and devotes for sports. These people bicycled for an average of 265 kilometres every week. To qualify for the trials, these athletes had to reach a specific threshold for aerobic fitness and complete the 120-minute cycling challenge followed by a time trial.
All the participants were randomly assigned one of the three conditions during the experiment – either they would consume water alone or a commercially available carbohydrate gel or an equivalent amount of carbohydrates from potatoes.
Throughout the exercise, blood glucose levels of participants, core body temperature, exercise intensity, gastric emptying and gastrointestinal symptoms were checked. The concentrations of lactate, which is a metabolic marker of intense exercise.
04. Result
There was no difference between the performance levels of cyclists who got their carbohydrates by ingesting potatoes or recommended amount of gels. There was a significant boost in the performance of the two groups except for the one that only consumed water.
05. Observation
As per the study, the plasma glucose concentrations went up by the same amount in those consuming potatoes and carbohydrate gels.
Potatoes health benefits that can’t go missed
1. Potatoes contain beneficial antioxidants that can reduce damage caused by free radicals.
2. Potatoes can be good for your digestion and gut health. Fibre content in potatoes can keep constipation at bay. Resistant starch from potatoes is mostly converted in short-chain fatty acid butyrate, which provides good bacteria to the gut. A healthy gut is an essential prerequisite for good overall health.
Potatoes can give a boost to your digestion
3. Potatoes are naturally gluten-free, which makes it a favourable food for people with celiac disease of gluten intolerance.
4. Potatoes are filling in nature. They can increase levels of fullness hormones such as cholecystokinin.
5. Resistant starch in potatoes can help in reducing insulin resistance and this can help in blood sugar control. Potatoes are thus beneficial for people with diabetes (keeping portion control in mind).
