Potatoes – The Overlooked Nutrition Power House
Potatoes have an unfair bad reputation because they’re often consumed in the form of French fries or potato chips or loaded with calorie-laden fats such as butter, sour cream and melted cheese. But, cut out the extra fat and deep frying, and a baked potato suddenly becomes a healthy high-fibre food.
Potatoes are a good source of fiber and full of antioxidants. Fiber can help prevent heart disease by keeping cholesterol and blood sugar levels in check. Antioxidants prevent diseases and help your body function properly.
The Health Benefits of Potatoes
Digestive health
The fiber found in potatoes is a special type of fiber called “resistant starch”. Many peer reviewed human studies have reported that resistant starch has powerful health benefits such as improved insulin sensitivity, lower blood sugar levels, reduced appetite and improved digestion [1].
Disease Prevention
Potatoes are packed with antioxidants — compounds that fight free radicals. A diet high in antioxidants lowers your risk of heart disease and cancer.
To get the most out of potatoes, leave the skins on. The skin of the potato can have up to 12 times more antioxidants than the flesh.
Lower Blood Pressure
A baked potato is a great source of potassium. A potassium rich diet can help decrease blood pressure, protecting the heart and reducing the risk of stroke.
Nutrition
One unskinned potato provides over 40% of the recommended daily value (RDA) of Vitamin C, 50% of the RDA for vitamin B6, and more potassium than a banana! Potatoes are also a good source of calcium, magnesium, and folate.
At Le Grand, we settle for nothing less than la creme de la creme. You’ll find organic potatoes in our vegan butters, cheeses and garden vegetable soup. We don’t just like plants, we’re obsessed with them. Which is why we settle for nothing but the best.
