Great News For Potato Lovers

A new study found that daily consumption of purple potatoes can help lower blood pressure, without causing weight gain. In the study, 18 overweight or obese, hypertensive subjects who either ate six to eight small purple potatoes, with skins, at both lunch and dinner (for a daily total of 218 calories), or had no potatoes as part of their diet for four weeks. Then the participants crossed over to the other regimen.

On average, diastolic blood pressure dropped by 4.3 percent and systolic blood pressure dropped by 3.5 percent.

Purple potatoes boast higher levels of polyphenol antioxidants that protect body cells against free radical damage that can increase disease risk. To preserve these powerful plant chemicals, subjects in the study were asked to microwave their potatoes instead of using other cooking methods.

Source: msnbc.com