The potato or potato, originally from South America and cultivated throughout the world, has had its International Year and in its honor several national holidays are celebrated. It is one of the most consumed foods in the world and yet there were not many studies that linked it to pregnancy. But excessive consumption of potatoes before pregnancy could be related to the onset of gestational diabetes.
The cause is the high amount of starch or potato starch and the way we digest it. Starch is a complex carbohydrate that the body converts to glucose, and potatoes, depending on their variety, are foods that are easily digested but have a high glycemic index, which can affect blood glucose levels.
And, after its rapid digestion, a large amount of glucose is released in the blood and a dysfunction or depletion of the insulin-producing beta cells is generated, which generates the development of diabetes.
As we know, gestational diabetes is a form of pregnancy-induced diabetes mellitus, suffered by one in ten women. As the hormones that are secreted during that period interfere with the work that insulin does to get glucose into the cells, blood glucose levels are higher than normal.
Until now, they knew each other risk factors for a woman to suffer gestational diabetes, such as a family history of type II diabetes, high age of women, obesity, previous gestational diabetes, smoking in pregnancy ... Should we add to these factors the fact of high consumption of potatoes?
This is what an observational study carried out by researchers from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Harvard University, in the United States, published by the British Medical Journal suggests. It is titled "Pre-pregnancy potato consumption and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus" ('Potato consumption before pregnancy and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus').
This is a large retrospective cohort study conducted with more than 15,000 women, which concludes that Potato consumption before pregnancy is significantly and positively associated with the risk of suffering from gestational diabetes.
They analyzed the potatoes (along with other foods) over four years and the cases of diagnosed gestational diabetes, taking into account several risk factors linked to this metabolic problem.
So, do I have to stop eating potatoes to prevent gestational diabetes?
We have already said that the potato is one of the most consumed foods in the world, so, who else who less, we eat them and surely our readers who want to be mothers will ask this question: Do I have to give up eating potatoes? Because this tuber is very rich in properties and beneficial for health, it is a source of fiber, potassium, vitamin C and minerals ... And the answer is: no.
What should be avoided, if the conclusions of this study are confirmed with new intervention and controlled clinical trials, is to take too many servings of potatoes a week. The risk of developing diabetes during pregnancy increases the more rations taken per week (for example, 50% more risk for women who consumed more than five rations per week).
In addition, the replacement of some portions of potatoes with other vegetables, legumes or whole grains was associated with a lower risk of gestational diabetes.
So, we do not have to stop eating potatoes, making a caveat: in the case of french fries, they are not going to do us too well and that in the study themselves point out that small portions are enough to do the same potential damage to the woman. Remember that fast food has been linked to an increase in gestational diabetes and also increases the risk of obesity, cholesterol ...
In short, we must try to lead a healthy lifestyle, before and during pregnancy. Potatoes, better cooked or roasted and without excess to prevent gestational diabetes, that excesses take their toll. Combining potatoes with vegetables, whole grains and legumes is a good option and maintaining a varied and balanced diet is the best advice.
