- One study found that potatoes are a vital source of potassium, fiber and vitamins.
- Researchers recommend adding potatoes and other starchy vegetables like yams to the diet.
- READ MORE: The new ‘wallet diet’ is the miracle solution for health
A new study suggests that not all carbohydrates are created equal.
According to researchers at Montefiore Medical Center in New York, choosing rice instead of potatoes could lead to a lack of valuable nutrients.
A detailed comparison of the nutrients in typical American meals revealed that swapping servings of bread and rice for potatoes twice a day could increase potassium levels by 21 percent, vitamin C by 11 percent, and fiber by 10 percent, which could reduce the risk of intestinal cancer.
Data shows that about 95 percent of American adults do not meet the recommended requirements for fiber, which is known to be crucial for healthy digestion.
Meanwhile, 98 percent don’t get enough potassium, according to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The important mineral for muscle contraction and healthy blood pressure.
Dr. Keith T Ayoob, a pediatric nutritionist in New York City, found that a medium-sized potato had more potassium, vitamin C, and fiber than whole-wheat bread or white rice.
Speaking about the findings, study leader and nutritionist Dr Keith T Ayoob said they show that carbohydrates are “not interchangeable” and have “very different vitamin and nutrient profiles”.
For the study, Dr. Ayoob and his colleagues compared the amount of potassium, vitamins B6 and C, and fiber in a medium-sized potato with that in white rice and whole wheat bread.
They then calculated the difference in nutrients between the three different carbohydrates in two typical American meals and calculated a total daily difference.
In addition to less potassium and fiber in the rice and potato meals, the researchers also saw 17 percent less vitamin B6, a nutrient also found in pork and poultry that is crucial for children’s health. blood vessels.
The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition, It found that a medium-sized potato has 15 percent of the daily recommended amount of potassium, while whole wheat bread has only three percent.
Dr. Ayoob, a pediatric nutritionist at Montefiore Hospital and Medical Center, said: “It’s tempting to think that all carbohydrate foods are interchangeable, but these foods are classified into different food groups for a reason; perhaps most importantly, they tend to to have very different properties”. Vitamin and mineral content.’
Dr. Ayoob wrote that potatoes are a good source of potassium, a “nutrient of concern,” according to the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Additionally, a medium-sized potato has 30 percent of the recommended amount of vitamin C – important for healing processes – while whole wheat bread has none.
Dr Ayoob said the findings show that potatoes are richer in nutrients than cereals such as white rice or bread.
However, it did not investigate the nutrient content of brown rice.
He also suggested not gorging solely on potatoes and introducing a “diverse intake of starchy vegetables” such as sweet potatoes and yams into the diet.
