Sometimes I think the potato is unfairly pegged as “bad” because of the infamous French fry and the ever growing varieties of potato chips. Potatoes are also commonly shunned by the carbo-conscious and quite frankly, I’m sick of hearing it. Potatoes are healthy and today, this post is going to bring you all the health benefits of the incredible, edible potato.
Whether you mash them, boil them, bake them, or roast them, potatoes pack loads of nutrition. If you take away the frying, the bacon bits, and the melted cheese, the potato can be a low calorie and high fiber addition to just about any meal.
You see, with the exception of vitamin A, potatoes contain just about every nutrient. They contain over 25% of your days worth of vitamin C, around 20% of vitamin B6, potassium, manganese, copper, fiber and more! They also contain phytonutrients like carotenoids, caffeic acid, and flavonoids, which have strong antioxidant activity, meaning they help kill bad things floating around in your body. The combination of all these nutrients will help prevent diseases like cardiovascular disease and certain cancers!
Roy Navarre, a geneticist from the Agricultural Research Service plant analyzed the Red and Norkotah potatoes revealing antioxidant activity that rivals broccoli, spinach and Brussels sprouts! Navarre’s team also found the potato to have high levels of folic acid, quercetin, and kukoamines (a compound that had previously only been found in the wolfberry plant or more commonly called the gogi berry)!
You see? Not so bad after all!
If you want to receive the most bang for your buck, I would suggest eating the whole potato; there’s plenty of nutrition found just in the skin itself! I would also recommend buying potatoes organic, as they do have high pesticide levels and are found in the list of the dirty dozen. I hope the next time you’re at the grocery store you’ll pick up a bag and get cooking. It might just be what the dietitian (instead of the doctor) ordered!
QUESTION: What’s your favorite way to eat potatoes?
I often cut up potatoes with onions and broccoli and fry them in a little olive oil and sea salt and cook til they are soft. An easy, tasty and healthy meal.
[...] you read my post The Incredible, Edible Potato, then you know all about the wonderful health benefits of incorporating MORE potatoes! And while [...]
I LOVE LOVE LOVE potatoes! They’re my favorite starch by far, beating pasta, bread, rice etc. by a landslide. For some reason they keep me full for hours as well–so satisfying and delicious! I like them cooked almost every way, except I’m not a huge fan of baked potatoes because they’re often dried out. If I had to pick a favorite preparation, I’d probably choose oven roasted with olive oil, rosemary, salt, pepper and garlic. SO delicious.
Thanks for sharing this and dispelling the myth that potatoes are “like eating sugar.” It’s just not true! <3
I agree – potatoes do get such a bad rep. I am all about roasting them with garlic – YUM!!
Funny that you wrote about this b/c I love sweet potatoes and my hubby loves regular white potatoes. I tend to make sweet ones more b/c I have always considered them healthier but recently have been making white ones more. Mashed are my favorite.
I eat sweet potatoes more than regular but really love them sliced up and baked in the oven with come olove oil salt and pepper…or just regular like a baked potato with some earth balance. SO yummy!!!!!!
Great post..and well deserved!!
I love potatoes! I love them roasted in the oven with thyme. Soo good!
PR for the potato, so important. I’m pro potato use them a lot under roast chicken and of course for any easy dinner.
That is one impressive potato
I prefer sweet potatoes for taste, but love the versatility of all potatoes – so easy to cook and they pair well with so many things. We have the purple-y ones quite often as they bake better than the plain white.
With vegetarian chili on top!
We just had some mashed potatoes tonight, and they were delicious! A true crowd pleaser in our house! Thanks for the info.
I love potatoes, especially sweet ones! I always get a potato when I go to Wendy’s, and add their chili on top. Nothing beats it for a healthier and cheaper meal-on-the-go.
This is fantastic news. I LOVE potatos. LOVE the heart shaped! How fun would it be to dig this up! Have a wonderful day Erin!!
Of course I LOVE french fries but never really eat them unless they’re baked! I love roasted red skin potatoes. So creamy and delicious!
I admit it, I prefer them fried. However… I really like to make healthy twice-baked potatoes and mashed potato/cauliflower.
I love sweet potatoes – yesterday ate at a restaurant that had baked sweet potato fries – SO good!
Yuum!!! We looove potatoes!!! My favorite way to eat them is probably just baked!
mmm, i love potatoes!! i hate that they get a bad rap. great post, love learning new nutrition facts
YES!!! I love potatoes! cheers to this. I like to lightly cook them in olive oil and finish them off in the oven, mmm. You rock, team potato!
Great topic for a post. I never understood why everyone hates on spuds either!
Just don’t fry them in deep fat — and it’s all good.
I have to admit, I rarely eat regular potatoes because I love sweet potatoes about 1000x more – not just for nutrition, but for taste. I DO however, like the heart shaped one!