- Fasting day on potatoes: benefit or harm
- Popular recipes and menus
- Reviews and weight loss results
It is not for nothing that potatoes occupy one of the leading positions among all vegetables, because the potato we are used to contains a large number of useful elements necessary for the human body.
It is for this reason that a fasting day on potatoes is successfully carried out both to cleanse the intestines of toxic harmful substances and for minor but quick weight adjustment.
Dietary properties of potatoes
To overcome stereotypes and understand how a fasting day on potatoes “works”, here are some interesting facts.
Slow carbohydrates
Their leader is starch. Its structure is a polysaccharide. Before absorption, several stages of splitting occur. This process wastes energy. The final product (glucose) enters the blood in small portions, maintaining a constant concentration without sudden fluctuations. This is the main mechanism for creating a feeling of satiety:
- a decrease in blood glucose is perceived by neurons in certain parts of the brain, and the body receives a “command” to urgently look for food;
- There is enough glucose, which means there is nothing to worry about, there is no appetite.
So starch allows you to “cure” the most unpleasant symptom for all those losing weight - hunger.
Vegetable protein
A good “helper” in the fight against appetite. It breaks down slowly with high energy consumption, which requires the consumption of subcutaneous fat.
Building material for all cells of the body. Without it, no system can function, because all enzymes and hormones have a protein structure. Protein content: 1.87 g per 100 g.
Cellulose
Only very slim people who are not at all interested in their weight have not heard about its benefits for weight loss. It swells in the intestines and passes through the digestive tract unchanged. Toxins that have accumulated as a result of improper nutrition “cling” to it. There is a lot of fiber in young potatoes, so they are most useful for cleansing the body.
Unique set of minerals
Calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, iodine, cobalt, copper - these are not the composition of multivitamins, but the ingredients of ordinary potatoes. The leader is potassium, the content of which in the peel is simply record-breaking - 379 mg per 100 g. How does this laboratory work in the fight against excess weight?
- increases the rate of metabolism, including lipolysis;
- removes excess fluid (fights hidden swelling and cellulite);
- strengthens hair, nails, increases skin elasticity.
The conclusion is simple - don’t rush to peel your vegetables. We will tell you how to preserve all the beneficial properties and prepare delicious meals for fasting.
Pros and cons of the diet
The advantages of a weight loss program based on an all-familiar product are obvious:
- Hearty and nutritious. The tuber does not allow the body to experience food shortages.
- Useful. There is an improvement in overall health and strengthening of the nervous system.
- Simple. It is not at all difficult to prepare dishes.
- Available. Buying an inexpensive diet product does not lead to waste.
The potato diet does not cause decreased performance and depression, since it does not lead to loss of strength and apathy.
There are also disadvantages to nourishing weight loss:
- The mono diet is quite strict, so compliance with it requires taking a vitamin-mineral complex.
- You may experience extreme thirst while on a special diet. You will have to drink a lot and often.
- The food ration is poor, so you get bored quickly.
- This method of losing weight is absolutely not suitable for diabetics, pregnant and lactating women.
You should not abuse the diet if:
- flatulence is observed;
- urolithiasis is present;
- there is an exacerbation of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Fasting day on potatoes: benefit or harm
The main benefit of a potato fasting day is that during it, the person losing weight enjoys pleasant and familiar food, and also does not feel hungry at all.
- Young potatoes produce an excellent cleansing effect. After unloading, you can feel an unprecedented lightness in the stomach and a surge of energy.
- Reduces cholesterol levels in the blood, removes excess fluid accumulated in the body and, therefore, eliminates edema, cleanses the blood of waste and toxins.
- Potatoes, containing antioxidants, rejuvenate the body and fight free radicals, which cause the skin to age and become sagging.
- Vitamin C contained in potatoes helps fight infectious and colds and improves immunity.
- This product also contains amino acids, pectins, vitamin B2, a number of minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, iodine, etc.
- The energy value of potatoes is 72.7 kcal per 100 g of product.
- Jacket potatoes are considered the healthiest, because potato skins contain a lot of vitamins.
- Indications for potato unloading are nephritis, high blood pressure, kidney failure, and circulatory problems.
Rules for unloading
Any fasting days are considered a diet, so you need to follow some rules in order to spend these days with health benefits and not harm:
- Unloading for the body should be done no more than once a week. You can do this procedure weekly on an ongoing basis.
- On this day, it is necessary to give up physical activity so that the body works in a gentle manner.
- You need to monitor your well-being. For those who are organizing a one-day vegetable fast for the first time, it is more convenient to choose a day off. If the body tolerates the diet easily, then you can choose a working day for unloading.
- When it comes to vegetables, the daily amount of food should not exceed 2 kg.
- You need to exit after a fasting day gradually. You should not eat a lot of food at once, so as not to experience digestive problems.
Options for fasting days on potatoes
Before choosing the fasting day option, you need to understand that the calorie content of potatoes is only 80 kcal per 100 g. For comparison, this is less than buckwheat or pearl barley. Therefore, the basic recipe allows for 1.5 kg per day. The secret is that you need to abandon traditional combinations:
- You can’t add salt and pepper;
- deep-fry (increase calorie content to 200-300 kcal per 100 g);
- add butter.
We divide the entire volume into 5 meals and in between we drink only water, green tea, and herbal decoctions.
Fasting day on baked potatoes
Baked potatoes during a fasting day are the healthiest way to prepare root vegetables. When baked, all the potassium is retained in the peel, so this menu is recommended for diseases of the cardiovascular system (hypertension, arrhythmias) and kidneys.
Recipe: Wash 1.5 kg of tubers well, cut into four parts and bake in the oven or grill without adding oil. The taste is very reminiscent of a favorite from childhood, cooked over a fire. It is allowed to sprinkle the dish with herbs or pour a small amount of olive oil.
Fasting day on jacket potatoes
For a fasting day, mature tubers are used on jacket potatoes. The peel of a young one may contain solanine, a poison that causes poisoning. It gives vegetables a greenish color. It accumulates after February-March - this is a kind of protection against rotting. Therefore, it is better to cook vegetables “in their uniforms” only in the fall. The menu is not fundamentally different from the previous one in terms of quantity.
Fasting day on boiled potatoes
Boiled, aromatic, sprinkled with dill - this side dish is one of the most popular on the table, but this type of potato can be used even during a fasting day. This diet should appeal to women with families. There is no need to prepare anything additional, just boil the potatoes 1.5 kg more than usual and do not season them with butter.
Fasting day on young potatoes
Young potatoes are very popular at the beginning of summer, then they can be used during the fasting day. But if you flavor it with rich sour cream, you won’t be able to lose weight. Unloading excludes any “additives”; a little olive oil is allowed.
Due to the solanine content in young peels, it is best to remove them. Boil 1.5 kg without salt. You can make a puree by sprinkling it with chopped dill. It will be no less tasty and you will feel full for a long time. This diet will help you lose 1 kg of weight per day.
The choice of young potatoes must be approached especially carefully, since unscrupulous farmers may overdo it with nitrates to accelerate growth.
Fasting day on mashed potatoes
Mashed potatoes are a favorite dish for many people; This version of the fasting day is more varied and, in addition to mashed potatoes, includes other dishes. The menu for such unloading looks like this:
- Breakfast: skim milk (1 glass).
- Lunch: a serving of mashed potatoes without adding oil or spices (300 g).
- Dinner: salad made from potatoes, boiled eggs and seasoned with a small amount of vegetable oil, vinegar and ground pepper.
Nutritionist's opinion
Nutritionist Elena Starikova believes that it is difficult for people suffering from hypertension, cardiovascular failure and kidney disease to maintain a strict diet. Therefore, the easiest way is to do a potato fasting day, nothing more. It will be both healthy and satisfying. He recommends that everyone do it at least once a month for prevention purposes.
Contraindications for a fasting day on potatoes
Some components of root vegetables can cause negative reactions if consumed in excess; Potato fasting day is contraindicated for the following diseases:
- Diabetes. High content of starch, which, although slow, is still a carbohydrate.
- Urolithiasis disease. The rich composition of minerals can enhance the formation of calcium phosphate stones.
- Flatulence is not a disease, but an unpleasant symptom in which a person experiences heaviness and pain in the abdomen. Fiber and starch increase gas formation in the intestines.
- Chronic inflammatory diseases of the stomach and intestines - gastritis, enteritis, colitis .
It is important to consult with your doctor before starting regular fasting. Proper use of potatoes allows you to lose up to 4-5 kg per month.
Reviews
Elena, 25 years old, Kazan
I would never have thought that potatoes would help you lose weight. I tried different fastings, but they did not give the desired effect, because I found them difficult to bear due to the constant feeling of hunger. A friend advised me to sit on boiled potatoes with olive oil 1 day a week. I tried it every week for a month and got great results.
I couldn't drink enough water, but I ran to the toilet all day and learned that potatoes are an excellent diuretic. Thanks to this, I cleansed my body and began to feel great.
Anna, 54 years old, Moscow
A doctor I knew advised me to periodically carry out a fasting diet on potatoes, cucumbers and cabbage, but I had to refrain from consuming salt. It turned out that we can do without seasonings, because vegetables in their pure form have their own unique taste, which we have lost the habit of. After several potato fasting days with cucumbers and cabbage, my weight dropped and my body cleansed.
The right way out of the diet
Regardless of the duration of the program, the exit rules are the same. Moreover, the longer the course of the potato diet, the stricter their adherence should be.
- On the first day after finishing the diet, it is important to continue the diet, but include vegetable oil and spices.
- For 4 days you should eat small portions, sticking to 5-6 meals a day.
- High-calorie foods should be avoided for at least a week. Instead of a hearty sandwich, use a vegetable mix or lean porridge.
The effective diet of Julia Roberts
The famous American actress devotes from 2 to 10 days to the potato weight loss program, depending on the amount needed for weight loss. Julia offers several menu options:
№1
- Breakfast: a slice of whole grain bread, half a serving of low-fat cottage cheese, sweet and sour fruit.
- Lunch: a portion of low-fat cottage cheese, a salad of fresh vegetables.
- Lunch: salad of potatoes, carrots, sauerkraut, green onions and beets.
- Afternoon snack: low-fat yogurt, orange.
- Dinner: baked potatoes with grated cheese, sweet and sour fruit.
№2
- Breakfast: whole grain toast with cottage cheese, herbs and garlic paste.
- Lunch: carrot and beetroot mix.
- Lunch: salad of boiled potatoes, herbs, tomatoes and olive squeeze.
- Afternoon snack: grated apple and a portion of low-fat cottage cheese.
- Dinner: baked tuber with peel, mix of cucumber and herbs.
Salt is limited. Cold water is allowed in the amount of two liters.