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Are Potatoes Healthy Or Unhealthy? That’s Really True!

The potato ends up on many people’s plates as a staple food. It is an indispensable part of the kitchen and is used in many different ways. However, many are still unsure whether the potato is healthy.

Are potatoes healthy or unhealthy?

Boiled potatoes are very low in calories. They contain only 69 kilocalories per 100 grams. The reason: Potatoes consist of 80 percent water. But are potatoes healthy? And is it suitable for losing weight and for people with gluten allergies?

Potatoes consist of 14 percent carbohydrates – most of which are made up of starch. When cooked, the starch is converted and becomes easier to digest. This is also the reason why potatoes should not be eaten raw.

Are potatoes healthy or unhealthy?

The answer: the potato is healthy. It provides protein, has little fat, and is full of vitamins: 100 grams contain 12 mg of vitamin C. It also contains vitamins B1, B2, B5, B6, and K. Potatoes also contain other nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus.

Are potatoes good for losing weight?

Potatoes often have the reputation of being fattening foods – wrongly so. The potato itself does not make you fat. On the contrary: it contains a lot of fiber, which ensures a long-lasting feeling of satiety.

And those who want to lose weight don’t have to be afraid of the carbohydrate content of the potato either. Only empty carbohydrates, especially industrial sugar, make you fat. Properly prepared, potatoes can serve as the basis for diets.

That doesn’t mean, however, that the potato can’t become a real calorie bomb. But that only happens if you eat them, for example, in the form of fries and potato salad with lots of mayo or accompanied by fatty oils and sauces.

Potatoes for gluten allergy sufferers

Anyone who does not tolerate gluten can reach for potatoes with peace of mind: they do not contain gluten and are therefore a wonderful alternative to pasta.

Make sure that the potatoes don’t sit in the water for too long – this will lose some of the valuable vitamin C content of the tuber.

Can you eat the skin of potatoes?

Potatoes contain toxic glycoalkaloids – especially solanine. These toxins are not only contained in the green or damaged areas of the potato, but also the entire skin and sprouting points.

Glycoalkaloids can cause vomiting and diarrhea, but you have to ingest large amounts to experience any symptoms. For example, a person weighing 60 kilograms would have to eat 600 to 900 grams of unpeeled potatoes to notice symptoms – three times the amount of a normal meal. However, pregnant women and children should avoid eating unpeeled potatoes.

The following applies to small, green, or damaged areas as well as sprouting points on the tuber: it is best to cut them out at a generous distance. The rest of the potato can usually be processed further without hesitation. If the spots are larger or if the whole potato is green, it is better to throw them away.

Since the skin contains a particularly large number of vitamins, you should boil the potato with the skin on and only then remove it. Most of the vitamins are retained if the potatoes are gently steamed.

When it comes to potatoes, look out for the organic seal

As with all foodstuffs, the same applies to potatoes: Anyone who pays attention to the organic seal ensures that the product was produced and harvested under controlled, organic conditions and is therefore free of harmful substances. An important aspect, is why you should rather choose organic quality. Then you can be even more sure that the potato is healthy.

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Written by Dave Parker

I am a food photographer and recipe writer with more than 5 years of experience. As a home cook, I have published three cookbooks and had many collaborations with international and domestic brands. Thanks to my experience in cooking, writing and photographing unique recipes for my blog you will get great recipes for lifestyle magazines, blogs, and cookbooks. I have extensive knowledge of cooking savory and sweet recipes that will tickle your taste buds and will please even the pickiest crowd.

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