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Let's be honest: we all love our potatoes. Whether they're fries, mashed potatoes, or even a steaming, hot baked potato, we eat them more than we think. Grown as a root, the potato withholds the plant's energy as starch. Consumed as a starch, potatoes contain a good amount of carbs, and thus give us a good amount of energy.
In fact, a medium-sized potato provides about 37 grams of carbohydrates, which is a substantial amount of energy. So if potatoes give us this awesome and natural energy, they must be healthy. Right?
Seen as a health food, potatoes contain high amounts of Vitamin C (45%DV), Fiber (8%DV), Vitamin B6 (10%DV), Iron (6%DV), and Potassium (18%DV). But in order for all of these nutrients to be present, the potato skin must also be present - since that's where the majority of nutrients are located.
In addition to all of this vitamin-goodness, an average medium-sized potato also contains about 4 grams of protein. More than you thought? In fact, this makes potatoes a great vegan protein source.
What carcinogens, you say? A 2008 review reveals that a possible cancer agent, known as acrylamide, is produced in some foods, namely potatoes. When these large roots are heated over 120°C, acrylamide is produced. This creation leads baked potatoes and fries to be more dangerous to our health than we previously thought.
Another study done by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition tells us more heartbreaking news - those who consume fried potatoes 2-3 times per week are twice as likely to die an early death compared to those who don't consume them. Sad news, right?
Well, not necessarily. Sweet potatoes have more fiber and vitamin A, but regular potatoes contain higher amounts of iron, magnesium, potassium and Vitamin C. If you really think about it, sweet potatoes are eaten in healthier meals. They aren't usually consumed as chips or cheesy potato skins.
Bring some balance to your life by having some regular potatoes and some sweet potatoes. Instead of fries, opt in mashed potatoes without all the acrylamide. And maybe skip the added butter and cream by testing out this recipe.
Consume this healthy plant in moderate amounts, put down the fries, and if you're vegan, enjoy the protein.
