Antioxidants are substances that prevent the formation of harmful free radicals, which are reactive atoms that can accumulate in your body and contribute to chronic disease. Studies show that antioxidants can prevent certain types of chronic disease, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer (6Trusted Source, 7Trusted Source, and 8Trusted Source).
Potatoes are a good source of antioxidants, including specific types, such as flavonoids, carotenoids and phenolic acids (9Trusted Source). One study compared the antioxidant activities of white and colored potatoes and found out that colored potatoes were the most effective at neutralizing free radicals (10Trusted Source).
Another test-tube study found that the antioxidants in potatoes may reduce the growth of certain types of cancer, including colon cancer and liver cancer (11Trusted Source). Keep in mind that most available research is limited to test-tube studies. More research is needed to determine how the antioxidants in potatoes may affect the development of chronic diseases in humans.
