New Delhi: Have you heard of the potato diet? If you’re looking for a simple meal plan for weight loss, look no further than the humble potato. Potatoes are rich in vitamins, minerals, fibre and nutrients that can help ward off diseases, including cancer, and boost your health in many ways. The energy-packed vegetable is easy to digest and contains more potassium than a banana.
Whether white or sweet, plain potatoes are a great addition to any weight loss diet as they are fat-free and low in calories. According to the European Food Information Council, plain boiled potatoes are a very satiating vegetable, which means it helps keep you feeling full for an extended period of time, an important aspect of any food when you're trying to eat less to slim down your waistline or shed a few pounds. Hence, the potato diet or potato hack may help you achieve your fitness goals.
The potato diet for weight loss: Does it really work?
The potato diet is a short-term eating plan (3-5 days) designed to help improve weight loss, digestion and health. Basically, one eats nothing but potatoes while on the diet, promising fat men become as ‘lean as they ought to be’. Reportedly, the diet plan, which appeared in a medical journal, was originally developed by a doctor in 1849 for people that were becoming fat and ‘dyspeptic’ - having problems with digesting food - from living too. Tim Steele, who rediscovered the idea of the potato diet to help people deal with weight issues with his book, ‘The Potato Hack: Weight Loss Simplified’, said that the potato is the best diet pill ever invented. The Potato Hack is a comprehensive review of resistant starch, gut health, potato history, and a growing guide for those that want to grow their own.
It is said that potato contains Potatoes contains compounds that affect inflammation, hunger, insulin and sleep, helping to jump-start weight loss and a healthier way of eating. A 2014 study, which compared weight loss on a group of people following a reduced-calorie diet with or without potatoes, found that the adding potatoes to the diet did not cause weight gain.
How to use and prepare the potato diet for effective weight loss
To obtain the best results in weight loss, you may use the following tips:
*Dieters are advised to eat potatoes until full or about 2-5 pounds daily for 3-5 days.
*No other food is allowed while on the potato diet.
*You can add a very small amount of sea salt or Himalayan pink salt if you want, but it’s not encouraged.
*You can drink black tea, herbal teas, black coffee (no added milk or sugar) and water.
*Avoid heavy exercise while you’re potato dieting, instead, opt for light exercises, such as walking.
*You can also take your medications - if any - but dietary supplements are not recommended.