February 2, 2010

Nutrition News: Potato

Potatoes can provide good vitamins--be it boiled, fried, or baked.

 

When you’re out looking for carbs, there are three sources that you’d most probably look to: rice, bread, or the humble spud. The last is a popular staple in other parts of the world and one which Filipinos usually take as either French fries or mashed potato. Don’t knock the brown stuff though, because it gives a decent carb count and is also low in fat. And the dietary fiber that it lends you promotes several health benefits: it makes you feel full faster (a good thing when you’re on a diet), helps digestion, and prevents constipation.

 

It can also provide half of your daily allowance of vitamin C in a regular 150 gram tuber. You’d have to eat the potato with its skin though to get the whole 100 grams of it. It’s also a moderate source of iron, creating a nutritional combo because the micronutrient allows iron to be absorbed by the body easily. Aside from that, there are also vitamins B1, B3, and B6 along with potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and riboflavin. Amazingly enough, potatoes also contain antioxidants that fight free radicals, that could play a part in preventing a lot of diseases.

 

While potato is an excellent source of energy, you should take care in munching on it fried. It should always accompany a balanced meal and exercise. Without physical activity, you’re setting yourself up for a bevy of problems related to being overweight like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease included.

 

Yummy Suggested Potato Recipes:

 

 

Potato Cakes

 

 

Warm Shrimp Potato Salad in Mustard Sauce

 

 

Potato Skins with Mixed Herbs

 

 

Potato and Onion Torta

 

 

Potato-Cauliflower Curry

 

COMMENTS

• Be the first one to comment...