Health Debunked: Does Raw Potato Juice Really Have Any Health Benefits?
Key takeaways:
There is no scientific evidence to support that drinking raw potato juice has any real health benefit, let alone treat a bacterial (or viral) infection.
In fact, registered dietitians don’t even recommend drinking raw potato juice in general because of the risk of abdominal discomfort.
Always get medical help when you’re having intense throat symptoms.
Those on TikTok, or who have loved ones scrolling on the social media platform, are likely familiar with many “homeopathic” remedies touted by non-experts. Perhaps, one of the most dangerous treatment methods to be recommended most recently by an influencer had to do with drinking raw potato juice as a means to cure strep throat.
But, is there truth to this strange claim? It also begs the question: Are there any health benefits of drinking raw potato juice — or should potatoes be saved for the air fryer and oven?
What are the reported health benefits of potato juice?
There are very little known benefits of drinking potato juice. Most of the research is based on lab and animal studies and agree that further research is needed. In fact, experts even recommend steering clear of the beverage altogether — but more on that below.
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Advocates for this bizarre trend suggest that potato juice might:
Lower inflammation caused by ulcers in the gut.
Have cancer-fighting chemical compounds.
Limit symptoms of dyspepsia (stomach discomfort).
And the latest — as an effective remedy for treating strep throat.
Claim: Raw potato juice can kill strep bacteria
The original TikTok video posted by a blogger/influencer has since been deleted. But, Dr. Idrees Mughal, MBBS, MRes (who goes by Dr. Idz on social media) reposted the alarmist part of the video that stated, “If you juice a potato and drink the juice, it kills strep right away” and debunked that myth.
What’s more, the blogger also claimed that drinking the juiced potato got rid of her daughter’s strep throat within 2 hours. Of course, it was not clear if the person who posted this video actually got a legitimate healthcare provider’s diagnosis.
Regardless, potato juice isn’t the answer. In fact, Laura Purdy, MD told GoodRx Health that in spite of a few, small studies looking at antimicrobial in potatoes, no solid evidence exists to support the claim.
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Sydney Greene, M.S., R.D.N. added that there appears to be a small amount of research that suggests potato peels hold antibacterial properties.
“However, in one of the studies, potatoes were examined in the context of being used as a food preservative. In addition, the potato peels were not consumed raw, they were dried and milled and then made into extracts with alcohol.”
What do experts say about potato juice and its recent use as a remedy?
It’s quite simple: Potato juice is not, by any means, a cure-all remedy. In general, people should disregard drinking raw potato juice as a health trend.
“Do not treat your child with potato juice if they have severe throat symptoms,” Mughal said in his TikTok. Not properly treating a sore throat can lead to further issues. He added that, if strep throat goes on without being treated properly with the use of antibiotics, it can cause serious problems, like rheumatic fever and kidney disease.
Are there any risks of drinking potato juice?
“Raw potatoes contain starches and other compounds that can be difficult for the body to digest,” Johna Burdeos, RD told GoodRx Health. “Additionally, raw potatoes may contain harmful compounds which can cause digestive issues.”
One of those compounds is solanine, Greene noted. This is found in many nightshade vegetables, including potatoes
“When consumed in small amounts, solanine can cause unwanted GI symptoms in varying severity such as vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain,” she said. In larger amounts, solanine is toxic.
This is why cooking potatoes may be the safest way to consume the starchy vegetable. As Greene pointed out, solanine is broken down when potatoes are cooked.
So, should I try potato juice?
To cure a sore throat? No, definitely not.
If you’re trying to heal a sore throat, seeing a healthcare provider right away is always encouraged.
“If someone has strep throat, they should contact the doctor either in person or through telemedicine. Antibiotics are the absolute best treatment for strep throat. And if untreated, strep throat can spread to other parts of the body and cause very severe infection with long-standing side effects,” Purdy said.
She added that acceptable home remedies include over-the-counter pain relievers like Tylenol and ibuprofen — and throat-numbing agents like sprays and throat lozenges — to help ease pain and fever symptoms. But these medications should be taken along with antibiotics, or as a way to offset discomfort until you can be seen by a health professional.
“I do not recommend that someone try to treat at home or delay treatment if they know that they are infected with strep throat,” Purdy said.
Why trust our experts?
References
EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM). (2020). Risk assessment of glycoalkaloids in feed and food, in particular in potatoes and potato-derived products. EFSA Journal.
Gebrechristos, H. Y., et al. (2020). Potato peel extracts as an antimicrobial and potential antioxidant in active edible film. Food Science & Nutrition.
Palm, J., et al. (2018). Efficacy and safety of a triple active sore throat lozenge in the treatment of patients with acute pharyngitis: Results of a multi-centre, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group trial (DoriPha). International Journal of Clinical Practice.
