Friday, October 17, 2025
22.1 C
New Delhi

Spuds May Be The Secret To A Healthy Gut, Especially If You Eat Them This Way

Love spuds? Well, researchers behind a 2023 study have given you a science-backed reason to adore them even more.

The research found that when consumed daily, 3.5g of resistant potato starch worked as a probiotic, appeared to reduce gut-irritating histamines, and even could help with leaky gut (woah).

Resistant starch is starch that your body cannot digest.

It’s more plentiful in cold potatoes (and pasta) than hot ones, and has been linked to better blood sugar management and gut health.

How did the study work?

In this study, participants ranged in age from 18 to 69. They were divided into three groups, and were either given 7g or 3.5g of potato starch or a placebo to take for four weeks.

The placebos and starches were randomly assigned.

After four weeks, researchers compared the participants’ bowel movements and overall gut health with those at the start of the study. They also looked at the participants’ histamine levels.

All participants were told to maintain the same dietary and activity habits they normally had throughout the study.

So, what did they find?

Researchers found that the group that consumed 3.5g of potato starch daily “demonstrated significantly higher increases in the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium compared to the placebo arm”.

Bifidobacterium is a beneficial group of bacteria also known as probiotics.

The 3.5g group also saw a rise in beneficial Akkermansia bacteria. This degrades harmful mucin in the gut and is also a probiotic.

The bowel movements of those who took 3.5g of the potato starch daily tended towards the healthier end of the Bristol stool chart when compared to the placebo group (lovely).

Interestingly, the 7g group did see boosts in beneficial bacteria, but “while the relative abundance of bifidobacterium increased in response to 7 g of RPS, the average increase was approximately 33% lower than what was observed in the 3.5g arm.

“Curiously, this was also the case for Akkermansia.”

Researchers think that external factors, like the participants’ diet, could have played a role in the outcome.

Why might potatoes be good for your gut?

“RPS [resistant potato starch] significantly increased Bifidobacterium and Akkermansia levels and decreased diarrhoea- and constipation-associated bowel movements compared to the placebo, meeting the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) consensus criteria for the definition of a prebiotic,” the researchers concluded.

But the scientists admitted “There are limitations to this study, including the short duration” – such as the short study period and small sample size.

Still, experts say that eating more resistant starch (like that in cold potatoes) is a great way to make your starches far healthier for your gut and blood sugar levels.

More reason than ever to devour my beloved Spanish potato salad…

Go to Source

Hot this week

‘It’s been an honour’: Navy admiral Alvin Holsey leading US forces in Caribbean retires

Admiral Alvin Holsey (Courtesy: Southern Command) Admiral Alvin Holsey, who leads the US Southern Command overseeing operations across Central and South America, announced on Thursday that he is retiring from service. Read More

Brazil asks US to reverse punitive tariffs as tensions over trade ease

The two countries in a joint statement released by the US State Department said the officials had “very positive talks regarding trade and ongoing bilateral issues” and that they sought to “establish a working path forward” Read More

Trump May Send Tomahawk Missiles To Ukraine: Here’s What They Are And Why Russia’s Worried

With a 2,500-km range and proven combat record, Tomahawks could transform Ukraine’s strike capabilities and force a recalculation in Moscow Go to Source Read More

Sonam Kapoor’s Diwali Glam Features A Sunshine Yellow Saree And A Cobalt Blue Shirt

Sonam Kapoor mixed and matched a vibrant yellow silk saree with a cobalt blue silk shirt for Diwali. The saree featured golden zari work and peacock motifs. Read More

Inspired by Seshan, EC to have separate enclosures for voting by ‘purdanasheen’ women

File photos NEW DELHI: Taking a leaf out of former chief election commissioner (CEC) T N Seshan’s book, the Election Commission has asked its Bihar poll machinery to set up separate enclosures for identification of ‘purdanasheen’ Read More

Topics

‘It’s been an honour’: Navy admiral Alvin Holsey leading US forces in Caribbean retires

Admiral Alvin Holsey (Courtesy: Southern Command) Admiral Alvin Holsey, who leads the US Southern Command overseeing operations across Central and South America, announced on Thursday that he is retiring from service. Read More

Brazil asks US to reverse punitive tariffs as tensions over trade ease

The two countries in a joint statement released by the US State Department said the officials had “very positive talks regarding trade and ongoing bilateral issues” and that they sought to “establish a working path forward” Read More

Trump May Send Tomahawk Missiles To Ukraine: Here’s What They Are And Why Russia’s Worried

With a 2,500-km range and proven combat record, Tomahawks could transform Ukraine’s strike capabilities and force a recalculation in Moscow Go to Source Read More

Sonam Kapoor’s Diwali Glam Features A Sunshine Yellow Saree And A Cobalt Blue Shirt

Sonam Kapoor mixed and matched a vibrant yellow silk saree with a cobalt blue silk shirt for Diwali. The saree featured golden zari work and peacock motifs. Read More

Inspired by Seshan, EC to have separate enclosures for voting by ‘purdanasheen’ women

File photos NEW DELHI: Taking a leaf out of former chief election commissioner (CEC) T N Seshan’s book, the Election Commission has asked its Bihar poll machinery to set up separate enclosures for identification of ‘purdanasheen’ Read More

Shillong Teer Results Today, October 17, 2025: Winning Numbers For All Teer Games

Shillong Teer Result Today LIVE UPDATES. Here’s the full list of common and winning numbers for Shillong Teer, Juwai Teer, Khanapara Teer, and more for October 17, 2025 below. Read More

Sweta Keswani says Mariska Hargitay has Big B energy

Sweta Keswani revealed how she secured a role in Law & Order: SVU. She detailed her interactions with Mariska Hargitay, describing Hargitay’s humor and collaborative spirit on set. Read More

Related Articles