What Happens To Your Body If You Eat Too Many Potatoes

When it comes to side dishes, you can't beat potatoes. They are versatile, inexpensive, and delicious. There are several varieties of the root vegetable, ranging from russet, to red, to sweet potatoes. Over the years, you may have heard that eating too many potatoes can have negative side effects, such as high blood sugar or high blood pressure. But recent research shows that potatoes can have a positive effect on your body, even if you eat them every day (via Today). 

Potatoes are loaded with potassium. Just one medium-sized baked potato with the skin intact provides 26% of the recommended daily dose of the mineral (via Healthline), which is more than you would get from a medium-sized banana. Potassium helps your heart, kidneys, and muscles work more efficiently (via Cleveland Clinic). Keep your potassium levels up, and you can also avoid nasty muscle cramps (via Harvard Health Publishing) as well as the stiffening of your arteries, per National Institutes of Health.

Spuds also contain high amounts of other vitamins and minerals as well. Vitamin B6 helps your body metabolize food as well as maintain the health of the central nervous system. It also helps the body produce serotonin and norepinephrine, two hormones that can help regulate your mood and reduce stress (via Everyday Health). Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps the body fight free radicals, which can cause certain diseases and cancer. Vitamin C helps the body fight against the common cold, cancer, and eye disease (via Mayo Clinic). Potatoes also contain magnesium. Magnesium is essential for bone and cardiovascular health, and it may even lower your risk for diabetes (via Medical News Today).

There is a caveat, however. In order for potatoes to be considered a healthy addition to your diet, they need to be prepared in the right way. That being said, fries and chips aren't the best way to reap the benefits of a potato. Baking, steaming, or boiling potatoes are the preferred ways to cook them. In addition, too much salt, sour cream, or butter can turn an otherwise healthy potato into an unhealthy one real fast (via Today), so top your tubers with chives, diced tomatoes, or sliced bell peppers instead.