When It Comes To Your Health, How Do Potatoes Rate?
A baked potato can be eaten with its skin, which is high in fiber and is considered a healthy option.
You shouldn't rely solely on potatoes as a vegetable source due to their unique nutrient profile and composition (it has more starch than leafy greens, for example).
A medium, unsalted, baked potato without skin contains 160 calories. It is also naturally low in fat and cholesterol, contrary to the popular belief that potatoes are unhealthy. Because potatoes have approximately 4 grams of fiber and 4g of protein, we feel full.
Studies show that pasta is better at suppressing hunger than potatoes.
Potatoes are a great source of potassium and vitamin B6 as well as vitamin C and iron. Potassium, an important mineral that can counteract the effects of sodium on blood pressure, is found in medium potatoes. It contains around 20% of the daily potassium value.
In overweight hypertension patients, six to eight small purple potatoes rich with antioxidants twice daily did nothing to cause weight gain. It also helped to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease.
Although the nutrients and types of different potato varieties (Russet, white, or red) may vary slightly, they are not all significantly different. Sweet potatoes are an exception to this rule. They are rich in beta-carotene which our bodies convert into vitamin B. This antioxidant is essential for healthy skin and eyes..
Stop For Potatoes
French fries and hashbrowns are high in calories, fat, sodium, and carbohydrate because they're fried in lots of oil.
You can achieve similar results by dressing potatoes with high-calorie items. You can make a side dish high in calories by adding butter, sour cream, or mayonnaise.
Yes, potatoes have a high glycemic (GI) which means they raise blood sugar more than non-starchy vegetables and beans (which have lower GIs). However, the glycemic score is only one aspect of a food's nutritional content.
A recent study also found that GI values can be subject to significant individual variability. This limits their utility in guiding food choices.
One study that looked at large numbers of women found that consumption of potato products such as French fries was linked to an increase in type 2 diabetes risk.
Obese and inactive females are more likely to be insulin resistant. This may increase the metabolic adverse effects of higher-glycemic carbohydrates.
Another study showed that hypertension was more common in women who consumed four or more potatoes per week than those who ate one to three potatoes per month. The same effect was seen in men and women who ate French fries, which increased their risk.
The same study found that men who ate the same number of potato chips had a lower chance of developing prostate cancer.
What's the bottom line? Potatoes can be healthy as long as you are careful about how much you eat and what method of cooking you use.
You shouldn't eat only white vegetables, such as potatoes. All vegetables are not healthy.