<p>To the delight of potato lovers, researchers have found a simple potato extract may limit weight gain from a diet which is high in fat and refined carbohydrates.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The benefits of the extract are due to its high concentration of polyphenols, a beneficial chemical component also found in fruits and vegetables, said the scientists from McGill University in Canada.<br /><br />"We were astonished by the results," said Luis Agellon, one of the study's authors."We thought this can't be right - in fact, we ran the experiment again using a different batch of extract prepared from potatoes grown in another season, just to be certain," Agellon explained.<br /><br />Popularly known for its carbohydrate content, the potato is also a source of polyphenols.<br /><br />While carrying out the study, the researchers fed mice an obesity-inducing diet for 10 weeks.<br /><br />As a result, the mice that started out weighing on average 25 grams put on about 16 grams. But mice that consumed the same diet but with a potato extract gained much less weight - only seven more grams.<br /><br />"The daily dose of extract comes from 30 potatoes, but of course we do not advise anyone to eat 30 potatoes a day," principal author of the study Stan Kubow pointed out.<br /><br />Although humans and mice metabolize foods in similar ways, clinical trials are absolutely necessary to validate beneficial effects in humans. <br /><br />Besides, the optimal dose for men and women also needs to be determined, since their metabolisms differ. The study appeared in the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research.</p>
<p>To the delight of potato lovers, researchers have found a simple potato extract may limit weight gain from a diet which is high in fat and refined carbohydrates.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The benefits of the extract are due to its high concentration of polyphenols, a beneficial chemical component also found in fruits and vegetables, said the scientists from McGill University in Canada.<br /><br />"We were astonished by the results," said Luis Agellon, one of the study's authors."We thought this can't be right - in fact, we ran the experiment again using a different batch of extract prepared from potatoes grown in another season, just to be certain," Agellon explained.<br /><br />Popularly known for its carbohydrate content, the potato is also a source of polyphenols.<br /><br />While carrying out the study, the researchers fed mice an obesity-inducing diet for 10 weeks.<br /><br />As a result, the mice that started out weighing on average 25 grams put on about 16 grams. But mice that consumed the same diet but with a potato extract gained much less weight - only seven more grams.<br /><br />"The daily dose of extract comes from 30 potatoes, but of course we do not advise anyone to eat 30 potatoes a day," principal author of the study Stan Kubow pointed out.<br /><br />Although humans and mice metabolize foods in similar ways, clinical trials are absolutely necessary to validate beneficial effects in humans. <br /><br />Besides, the optimal dose for men and women also needs to be determined, since their metabolisms differ. The study appeared in the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research.</p>