Are Potatoes Healthy?

The Controversial Truth That May Surprise You

 

Don’t eat anything white. Potatoes, white flour, white rice… All delegated to the bottom of the nutrition barrel. Are potatoes healthy, after all?

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They’re certainly a popular comfort food. And any way you cook them they’re delicious.

Our beloved veggie, the potato, has gotten a bad rap. There’s a lot of confusion and differing opinions, but really, are potatoes healthy? 

Yes and no. Mostly yes. (I think – only because I LOVE potatoes :-)

 

Naysayers believe:

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• Potatoes can cause your blood sugar levels to spike and then dip

• Potatoes are high in carbs, some folks believe this can cause weight gain

• Potatoes are often eaten as fast food - French Fries & Potato Chips – as we all know are very unhealthy

• Potatoes when peeled, boiled and eaten with loads of butter, sour cream and other fatty toppings add to weight gain and malnutrition

Potato Lovers (and the science behind it) believe:

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• Eating potatoes in healthy recipes, even 5-7 servings a week result in weight loss!

• Potatoes eaten in a plant-based diet help you lose weight and prevent a variety of ills

• Potatoes are high in antioxidants, specifically carotenoids, known to protect against chronic disease and inflammation.

• Potatoes protect against colon cancer and reduce inflammation of the colon

The Plant Paradox

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According to one of the world’s pre-eminent experts in heart surgery, Steven Gundry, M.D., potatoes, a member of the nightshade family SHOULD NOT BE EATEN or if you choose to eat them, peel them. Evidently, the lectins in the peel are unhealthy. Although some scientists strongly disagree, Dr. Gundry’s own data in his provocative book, The Plant Paradox: The Hidden Dangers in “Healthy” Foods That Cause Disease and Weight Gain,” shows that a lectin-free diet supports weight loss and is beneficial for those suffering from autoimmune disease.

Some Doctors Disagree

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Medical doctors, according to LIVESCIENCE are baffled by his dietary recommendations. And considering the organizations behind them, it makes perfect sense. (No, it’s not what you think.)

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If you want to know who is behind an organization, a cause, or a movement, find out who's backing it.

 

Why Some People May Need to Watch Their Potato Consumption

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If you are obese, pre-diabetic, or diabetic, eat a large variety of colorful healthy veggies, and skip the chips, fried potatoes and white potatoes with typical fat-laden toppings such as butter and sour cream. Try nutrient-rich sweet potatoes (not a true potato) or purple potatoes instead. Herb roasted veggies are easy to make and a deliciously healthier alternative.

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Recipe Note:

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Use ONLY Cold-Pressed Extra-Virgin Organic Olive Oil (EVOO) and NEVER cook EVOO at temps higher than 350 degrees.

And NEVER use refined table salt. It’s toxic!! Pink salt has over 80 minerals and will not harm your body like the stuff you find in restaurants and processed foods. Place your veggies in a large baking pan on “safe” parchment paper. (I don’t worry about having too many veggies in a baking pan.) Just be sure to stir at least twice every 15 minutes or so until the biggest pieces are thoroughly cooked. And yes, we use potatoes! Include your favorites such as broccoli, zucchini, carrots. Whatever you like.

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“Let your food be your medicine, and medicine be your food.” Hippocrates, Father of Medicine

References

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The Starch Solution: Eat the Foods You Love, Regain Your Health, and Lose the Weight for Good!

by John & Mary McDougall

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Lose the weight, not the potatoes

 

U.S. National Library of Medicine – NIH

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The Plant Paradox – Steven Gundry, M.D.