Is America’s Most Loved Vegetable Actually Good for You?

BPT

 

America’s most loved vegetable — the potato — loves you right back. Surprisingly, this versatile nutrient-dense vegetable brings a lot to the table.

For home cooks inspired by plant-based ingredients, potatoes add so much to an array of recipes, ranging from special occasion entrees to globally inspired dishes.

 

Potatoes show your body love

As a nutrient-dense vegetable, potatoes can stay at the top of your grocery list.

A 110-calorie, skin-on medium (5.3 ounces) potato delivers:

---26 grams of good carbs to fuel you — whether you’re working out or just running errands.

---3 grams of protein, as an affordable and plant-based protein option.

---more potassium than a banana: Potassium is an important mineral for an overall heart-healthy eating pattern. Potatoes are a food with one of the highest levels of potassium and are considered a good source, providing 15 percent of your recommended daily value per serving (620 mg).

---30 percent of your daily recommended vitamin C requirement, especially top of mind this winter season.

---Zero fat, cholesterol, gluten or sodium, to suit your health goals.

 

 

Potatoes have good carbs

Not all carbs are created equal. Some emerging research suggests the starch in potatoes that’s greatly increased through heating and cooling them, called resistant starch, may deliver similar health benefits to dietary fiber. Dietary fiber, like the 2 grams found in a skin-on medium potato, has been shown to have numerous health benefits, including curbing your hunger.

Registered Dietitian Cara Harbstreet advises including foods you love, such as potatoes, in your daily diet and that all foods — including your favorites — belong as part of your diet.

“Carbs should have a place on your plate every day. Not all carbs are created equal, so whenever possible, reach for an option that provides key nutrients too,” said Harbstreet. “Potatoes deliver a nutritional punch and are easy to incorporate into special-occasion meals and everyday eating.”

 

Potatoes are budget-friendly

Not only do potatoes taste great, they’re also an affordable, nutrient-dense vegetable that provides more nutrients per penny than most other vegetables. And, if you are looking to amp up the fiber content of your daily diet, potatoes are one of the least expensive sources of fiber out there.

 

 

Potatoes are revered around the world

It's not just the United States that has enjoyed a long-lasting love affair with the potato. Potatoes are a staple in nearly every cultural cuisine, and they’re uniquely suited to deliver today’s most on-trend global flavors. Using the familiar potato as your base, you can explore cuisines from around the globe.

The many varieties of the potato have inspired endless recipes using fresh, frozen, or dehydrated potatoes.

 

For recipe ideas, visit PotatoGoodness.com.

 

Article courtesy of Brandpoint. Published with permission.

 

Highbrow Magazine

 

Image Sources:

--Brandpoint

--Pxfuel (Creative Commons)

--Stock-Free.org (Creative Commons)

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