Potatoes are among the favorite spuds around. But due to their negative reputation when it comes to weight gain, here’s a better alternative: purple potatoes. The potato is called so because both the skin and the flesh have the same purple shade. They look unique, especially as an adornment to your dishes.

But it’s not just the color that you should find appealing. These potatoes are high in antioxidants and have several health benefits that you will surely be thankful for:

1. Color Your Food the Healthy Way

Root vegetables, including carrots and potatoes are used to color foods. In fact, they are grown and harvested for this purpose. So, if you’re thinking about coloring your foods, stay away from food dyes because they are linked to cancer. Instead, choose purple potatoes, which are full of anthocyanins, a safe and healthy alternative to artificial food color.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Google+
Purple potatoes can help lower your blood pressure / PicHelp

2. Regulate Your Blood Pressure

If you have hypertension, you have to watch your diet. The good news is that purple potatoes can help lower your blood pressure, according to a study by the American Chemical Society. Purple potatoes have high amounts of chlorogenic acid, a type of phytochemical that is associated with low BP. No matter how you prepare the potatoes, it is estimated they can lower up to four percent of your blood pressure levels. Even more good news is that it does not cause weight gain, another great benefit for people with hypertension.

3. Purple Potatoes May Help Stop Blood from Clotting

Blood clotting or thrombosis is one of the leading causes of death in the world. Fortunately, this health problem can be prevented and one possible way is through adding purple potatoes to your diet. Because of the chlorogenic acid content of the potato, blood clots are broken down and the enzymatic activities of pro-coagulant peptides and proteins may be inhibited.

4. Purple Potatoes are Very Rich in Fiber

According to reports, most people don’t consume enough fiber daily. If you are having trouble meeting the recommended daily intake for the nutrient, add purple potatoes in your diet. They are a good source of insoluble fiber, which can help keep things moving smoothly through the digestive system. As a result, you won’t feel stomach discomforts, constipation, diarrhea, and irregular bowel movements.

Antioxidants and phytonutrients help purple potatoes become effective in fighting diseases, especially those that are caused by inflammation. Instead of eating the white-flesh counterpart and cooking French fries, try some purple potatoes, which are more nutritious and won’t cause weight gain.