Is there diarrhea or constipation from potatoes and is it possible to eat it in such cases

Potatoes are among the staple foods of modern humans. However, its use is not always enjoyable. Sometimes the product aggravates or even provokes digestive disorders such as diarrhea and constipation. This problem can affect both adults and babies who have just switched to solid food. People suffering from eating disorders or having a predisposition to them should know everything about the peculiarities of potatoes.

The article will tell you whether it is possible to eat potatoes for diarrhea and constipation, and how this product affects the functioning of the digestive system.

Potato composition

100 g of potatoes contains:

• calories - 86 kcal;
• water - 77.46 g;
• carbohydrates - 18.21 g;
• fiber - 1.8 g;
• fats - 0.1 g;
• saturated fat - 0.03 g;
• cholesterol - 0 mg;
• proteins - 1.71 g;
• ash - 0.72 g.

Macronutrients:

• potassium - 328 mg;
• calcium - 8 mg;
• magnesium - 20 mg;
• sodium - 5 mg;
• phosphorus - 40 mg.

Trace elements:

• iron - 0.31 mg;
• manganese - 0.14 mg;
• copper - 0.17 mg;
• selenium - 0.3 mcg;
• zinc - 0.27 mg.

Vitamins:

• vitamin A - 3 mcg;
• beta carotene - 0.02 mg;
• vitamin B1 - 0.12 mg;
• vitamin B2 - 0.07 mg;
• vitamin B4 - 11 mg;
• vitamin B5 - 0.3 mg;
• vitamin B6 - 0.3 mg;
• vitamin B9 - 8 mcg;
• vitamin C - 20 mg;
• vitamin E - 0.1 mg;
• vitamin H - 0.1 μg;
• vitamin K - 1.9 mcg;
• vitamin PP - 1.8 mg.

Potatoes are high in vitamins B6, B4 C and PP... They stimulate the immune system, keep the blood vessels in good shape, help keep the body young, improve skin condition and provide a full-fledged metabolism.

It is interesting! To get a daily intake of vitamin C, a person only needs to eat 450 g of potatoes.

Potatoes are rich in minerals in silicon and cobalt... It also contains iodine, without which the normal functioning of the thyroid gland is impossible. Calcium maintains the strength of the musculoskeletal system, is involved in the formation of bone tissue. Selenium, along with vitamin C, supports the functions of the immune system, and also slows down the aging process in the body.

It is important to know that the composition of potatoes is not constant and depends on a number of factors... Young tubers contain more water and vitamins than old ones, and they also have significantly less starch. As potatoes age, water evaporates from it, many vitamins are destroyed, so that the nutritional value of overwintered potatoes is very low.

In addition to age, the content of useful elements largely determines the conditions for growing a vegetable.: soil type, variety, fertilizers. If they are used excessively, there is a high risk of getting tubers with a dangerous concentration of nitrates.

Glycemic index

The glycemic index of potatoes fluctuates depending on the cooking method... It is highest in mashed potatoes - 90. Boiled potatoes have a glycemic index of 70, and in jacket potatoes - 65.

These are high values, so potatoes are not recommended for people with diabetes.

Potato properties

It is widely believed that potatoes do not carry any nutritional value.... For this reason, it is often not included in various diets, and sometimes it is recommended to completely remove it from the diet in view of its uselessness. However, this is an erroneous point of view.

Due to its rich composition, it provides the most diverse effect on the body.

Beneficial features

First of all, potatoes are a very nutritious product.... This vegetable perfectly saturates the body due to its high starch content, is well absorbed and rarely causes allergies. Because of these qualities, it is classified as a hypoallergenic product.

Another valuable property is possessed by starch... It forms a shell on the walls of the stomach and intestines, which protects these organs from the action of aggressive food components. This is important for those who suffer from gastritis, duodenal or stomach ulcers, or have high acidity.

Benefits not only cooked, but also raw tuber, in particular its juice... It is able to relieve pain in stomach ulcers, and also contains enzymes that actively break down sugar, making it easier to digest sweet foods. Potato juice also has a cleansing effect, helping to remove toxins from the body.

Potatoes contain a whole complex of vitamins and minerals that are involved in the body's metabolic processes. He also has a beneficial effect on the circulatory, nervous and excretory systems.

Harmful properties

Unfortunately, potatoes do not always have a beneficial effect on the body... It also possesses a number of properties unpleasant for humans.

Potato tubers synthesize substances that can cause serious harm... The most dangerous of them is solanine... It is always present in tubers, but usually its concentration is too low to be harmful. However, with improper or too long storage, the solanine content increases to critical levels.

Fast carbs, which are quite abundant in potatoes, contribute to weight gain... Therefore, if you are overweight or have metabolic disorders, it is recommended strictly dose this product.

Due to the high glycemic index potatoes are dangerous in severe diabetes.

The effect of potatoes on the digestive system

The effect of potatoes on the functions of the digestive system is highly controversial. Quite often people complain that potatoes cause both constipation and diarrhea.

This effect of potatoes is caused by several factors.:

• the composition of the vegetable;
• diet;
• cooking method;
• individual characteristics of the human body.

Eating potatoes, especially raw potatoes, can provoke nutritional diarrhea - an eating disorder caused by unhealthy diet. The cause of diarrhea is coarse vegetable fiber, which contains 1.8 g per 100 g of product in potatoes. Its excess leads to dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract, which causes bloating and diarrhea.

Fried or deep-fried potatoes are especially harmful... Cooking uses a lot of oil, which can cause an eating disorder in both children and adults. It is not recommended to eat fatty meat with potatoes. The animal fats it contains, in combination with potato fiber, can also trigger diarrhea.

Stool thinning may be due to an allergic reaction to potatoes... In a small number of people (especially in children under 6) diagnose intolerance this vegetable. If, in addition to nausea and diarrhea, skin rashes appear after eating potatoes, you should contact an allergist.

Potatoes can cause constipation... This happens due to an excess of carbohydrates. Starch can also strengthen. The risk of indigestion is especially high when eating boiled, baked and stewed potatoes.

In young children, potato starch sometimes causes constipation during complementary feeding... Their gastrointestinal tract is just beginning to adapt to "adult" food, so excessive exercise can lead to indigestion. For this reason, complementary foods are introduced little by little and the baby's reaction to the product is monitored.

Important! For both constipation and diarrhea, children and adults need to drink more fluids.

Eating potatoes for diarrhea

There is no definite answer to the question of whether it is possible to eat potatoes with diarrhea, because of the double effect that it has on the digestive tract. The starch contained in potatoes has a strengthening effect and normalizes stool. But at the same time, the abundance of fiber in the tubers, on the contrary, accelerates peristalsis, thereby having the opposite effect. That is why even doctors did not come to a consensus about whether it is possible to eat potatoes for diarrhea.

The effect of potatoes on the body largely depends on the method of its preparation.... With diarrhea, fatty foods are clearly prohibited, so you must refrain from fried potatoes. You can't eat raw potatoes either.

During diarrhea, it is best to eat a boiled, stewed or oven-baked vegetable... It is in thermally treated tubers that starch is most pronounced, which has a strengthening effect.

remember, that with diarrhea, many useful substances are washed out of the bodysuch as potassium and selenium. If you eat potatoes for diarrhea, you will make up for the lack of these substances.

Potatoes for diarrhea in children

Many parents doubt whether children can have boiled potatoes for diarrhea. This is especially true for babies under the age of 6 years. Gastroenterologists recommend giving children boiled or stewed potatoes.

Like adults, babies suffering from diarrhea are contraindicated in raw vegetables and fruits. We must not forget about the possible allergic reaction. Children under 6 years of age are most likely to be allergic to potatoes. Often its symptoms coincide with those of food poisoning and are accompanied by diarrhea.

If the child has severe diarrhea, that is, weakness, vomiting and abdominal pain appear, and the urge to use the toilet occurs more than three times a day, food is temporarily limited to just one fluid intake. For these symptoms, be sure to see your doctor.

Important! Solanine in potatoes can cause diarrhea. Indigestion is one of the symptoms of poisoning with this toxin. If you find green spots and sprouts on potatoes, do not eat these tubers.

Eating potatoes for constipation

Constipated people are advised to consume foods rich in fiber... This substance improves intestinal peristalsis and promotes the removal of feces. Potatoes meet this requirement. Its tubers are a source of coarse vegetable fiber, so gastroenterologists prescribe this vegetable for constipation.

Raw potato juice also benefits... The enzymes that it contains thin the stool and allow gentle bowel movements.

Juice is squeezed through cheesecloth from tubers grated on a fine grater or use a juicer. For greater efficiency, potatoes are used together with the peel, after thoroughly washing out. In no case should you take old or green potatoes for making juice - they have an increased content of poisonous solanine. Pink potatoes are best as they tend to contain less pesticides.

For an adult, 150 ml of juice is enough... Take it in the morning on an empty stomach one hour before eating. Drink undiluted or mixed with beetroot juice.

Important! Only freshly squeezed juice is of value. During storage, even in the refrigerator, the product loses its useful properties.

Remember the individual characteristics of the body of each person... Potatoes are rich in carbohydrates, which provoke constipation, so if the diet is violated and improperly cooked, this vegetable can only aggravate the situation.

With constipation, gastroenterologists recommend refraining from eating boiled, fried or stewed potatoes... Only the use of potato is allowed puree.

Although potatoes have a firming effect, they are often difficult to refuse. If you cannot exclude this vegetable from the menu, it is recommended to combine it with other products.which act as laxatives. For example, apples, prunes, beets. Be sure to monitor the condition of your stool, and if the constipation worsens, give up potatoes completely.

Potatoes for constipation in children

Children who suffer from constipation, as well as adults, should increase the amount of fiber in their diet. It is important to remember that each age has its own daily intake of this substance:

• babies from one to three years old need 19 g of fiber;
• children 4 to 8 years old - 25 g;
• children from 9 to 13 years old: 31 g - boys and 26 g - girls.

Do not dramatically increase the amount of fiber to the required norm.... The process should be gradual. It is best to give children puree as it has the least strain on the digestive tract and contains a lot of liquid. Moreover, it is better to combine it with laxative products.

Can be given to children and potato juice... If the child does not like the taste, mix this product with carrot or beetroot juice in equal proportions.

Interesting on the site:

How to use potatoes to treat various diseases

Does potatoes cause gas

Is it possible to eat potatoes with high cholesterol

Recommendations of doctors

Such an ambiguous product as potatoes did not go unnoticed by nutritionists and gastroenterologists. Experts have studied in detail the composition of the tubers and their effect on the gastrointestinal tract of adults and children. Based on the research, they talked about the possible dangers of this product and made recommendations for use.

O. Medvedev, Doctor of Medical Sciences: “Potatoes are very nutritious and can be used to make many different dishes. But the serious drawback of this product is that it can provoke excess weight gain. The most harmful for the digestive system are dishes with fried and deep-fried potatoes.

During frying, potato starch is converted into harmful carbohydrates, which dramatically increase blood sugar levels. Fried potatoes can also lead to digestive upset. It is best to eat boiled or stewed potatoes. It is the safest for digestion and contains the most nutrients ".

V. Golovenko, gastroenterologist: “The main task of an adult when feeding a child is not to harm the endocrine system and not disrupt metabolism. It must be remembered that baby food does not differ from an adult in anything other than the size of portions. For a day, a child needs 3-4 servings of complex carbohydrates, which are in potatoes.

Many parents believe that potatoes are junk food and try to keep them to a minimum in their child's diet, but in vain. For development, children must get the necessary carbohydrates from food - daily and in sufficient quantities. What's more, they slowly break down to glucose and give you a feeling of fullness. Of course, you need to monitor the body's reaction to potatoes, and if there are disturbances in the work of the stomach and intestines, it is worth adjusting the menu..

Conclusion

Potatoes are a very controversial product in terms of their usefulness. If used incorrectly or excessively, both adults and children can develop digestive problems. But if you do not break the rules for cooking potatoes, on the contrary, it will help get rid of such unpleasant phenomena as diarrhea and constipation. To do this, follow the instructions for its use, and then the potatoes not only will not cause any inconvenience, but will also restore the disturbed functions of the gastrointestinal tract.