Is It Good To Eat Potatoes During Pregnancy?
Did you know that potatoes are not recommended during pregnancy? This is because it increases the risk of developing diabetes for women who eat these good tubers.
According to a study published in the British Medical Journal, there is a direct link between the consumption of potatoes and an increased risk of developing gestational diabetes.
According to the results of the study, women who regularly eat potatoes have a higher risk of diabetes during pregnancy.
The study evaluated the diet of 21,100 pregnant women for a full decade. Of the 21,100 women studied, 854 developed diabetes during pregnancy because they ate a lot of potatoes.
The study was conducted by researchers at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
They concluded that the consumption of potatoes – whether mashed, roasted, boiled, baked or fried – significantly increased the woman’s risk of developing diabetes before and during pregnancy.
Reducing intake is not enough
Women who eat as little as one potato a week (boiled or baked), 237 ml of mashed potatoes or 113 grams of chips are 20% more likely to develop diabetes.
Women who eat more than five of the above portions a week are 50% more likely to be affected.
Therefore, it is not necessarily about high quantities.
According to the researchers, the increased risk of gestational diabetes is due to the large amount of starch found in potatoes. The starch is absorbed almost immediately by the body after the woman eats it.
When the body absorbs the starch in the potatoes, large amounts of insulin are created to process it. This in turn increases the risk of developing diabetes.
Potatoes are rich in vitamin C, potassium, fiber and certain phytochemicals. However, they can also have negative effects on a person’s glucose metabolism.
Replace potatoes with other foods
The study may be very significant as it was performed on more than 21,000 women, of whom 854 developed diabetes.
The researchers evaluated the women’s diet, but they also evaluated other risk factors, such as family history, physical activity level and body fat. They confirmed that women who ate potatoes in all its forms had a greater risk of developing diabetes.
They therefore recommend trying to replace potatoes with other alternatives. You can replace them with vegetables, legumes or whole grains before you become pregnant to minimize the risk of diabetes.
12.6% of Swedish women develop gestational diabetes, which is a doubling compared to 10 years ago. It is a condition that usually manifests itself after 28 weeks of pregnancy, and it disappears after childbirth.
Women who have gestational diabetes have a higher risk of developing diabetes in the future.
How big is the risk?
The women in the study who consumed a single serving of potatoes a week had a 21% risk of developing diabetes. Those who ate potatoes two to four times a week were 34% more likely to get it, and those who ate more than 5 servings of potatoes a week were 62% more likely to get diabetes.
If you are already pregnant, we recommend that you reduce your intake of potatoes. If you are planning to get pregnant in the near future, it is best to change your diet right now.
Replace potatoes with other vegetables. Look for foods that are more beneficial to your health and your future baby. As always, it is best to eat a balanced diet.
