Thursday, June 14, 2007

Potatoes - they're not bad, just misunderstood


Potatoes are low in fat, high in vitamins and minerals, virtually fat-free, contain almost no cholesterol and when served with their skins are a great source of fibre. And compared to most vegetables, they're even quite high in protein.

150g of potatoes provide you with a quarter of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of Vitamin C and Vitamin B6. And only 100 calories.

A baked potato in its skin contains more fibre than two slices of wholemeal bread.

However (especially when peeled) they are a high-glycemic-index food, raising bad triglycerides and depress good-type HDL cholesterol, boosting the risk of heart attack, especially in people with insulin resistance.

So, stick to small portions (say, 150g), hold the salt, butter and mayonnaise, and eat with low-glycemic index foods to buffer the 'sugar spike'.
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