With low or no-carbohydrate diets rising in popularity in recent times, the humble potato is now regularly overlooked in favour of other vegetables. Research has previously indicated that potatoes may have a detrimental effect on health, like possibly increasing the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes. But are the potatoes all that bad?
Latest research from the Edith Cowan University, Australia, shows that while spuds may not have all the same benefits as some other vegetables — like lowering risk of type 2 diabetes — health issues associated with potatoes may actually be due to how you are preparing them and what they’re eating them with.
People eat potatoes prepared in many different ways: Boiled potatoes, mashed potatoes, fries or crisps. Research has found that boiled potatoes are not associated with diabetes. It is only fries and mashed potatoes, usually made with butter, cream and the like, increase your risk of type 2 diabetes. The researchers advise that people should increase their vegetable intake and they could include potatoes, as long as they left out the unhealthy extras like butter, cream and oil. Potatoes have fibre and nutrients, which are good for you. Not all carbs are bad; it’s more about the type of carbs you’re having. Compared to something like white rice, boiled potatoes are a good quality of carbohydrate. Just take care how you prepare them. Don’t eat fries, or mash with extras in it all the time. Just boil them and eat them like other greens or other foods — and you don’t need to have it with red meat all the time.
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