Does Eating Potatoes Daily Cause Weight Gain? What Expert Says

Potatoes are a staple in every Indian household. Vegetables in India cannot be imagined without potatoes. This vegetable is included in the main menu of food everywhere. But it contains a lot of carbohydrates, so some people believe that eating potatoes will increase their weight and sugar levels. But this is a genuine question of whether it is harmful to include potatoes in your daily diet. In this vein, Dr Paras Agarwal, Senior Diabetologist, Max Healthcare Gurgaon, spoke to News18 and explained this in detail.

According to the Diabetologist, 100 grams of potatoes contain 77 per cent water. Along with this, it contains 1.9 grams of protein, 20.1 grams of carbohydrates, 0.9 grams of sugar, 1.8 grams of fibre and 0.1 grams of fat. It also contains elements like potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C and folate. In this way, potatoes are a complete package of diet.

Dr Paras said that, as you know, potatoes are full of nutrients. Its benefits and harm will depend on how you consume potatoes. For example, if you fry potatoes for a long time in oil and eat too much of it, then it will cause harm. But if you are healthy and eat potatoes in limited quantity, then there is no harm.

He further said that too many potatoes will definitely increase your weight. They are very high in calories. In this situation, if you eat deep-fried potatoes, then the amount of bad fat in them will also increase. Therefore, if you eat potatoes, eat them in very limited quantities. A healthy person can include 25-50 grams of potatoes daily that are not too deep-fried.

Dr Agarwal added that potatoes contain a lot of carbohydrates and are also very starchy. Therefore, if you are eating too much potatoes, then it will increase your blood sugar level. Diabetes patients should keep a watch and eat potatoes in limited quantities. It has been observed that in diabetes patients who consume too many potatoes, their blood sugar will also increase. He also said that if potatoes are fried in reheated oil, then it causes a lot of harm because it increases trans-fat, which can increase both weight and sugar levels.

Dr Paras said that potatoes should be boiled in limited quantities and eaten simply. If you are overweight, have heart-related problems, or are diabetic, then consult a dietician about how much potato you can eat daily and in what way.