21 Cool things about potatoes

Don’t be afraid. They will not hurt you. Potatoes have next to no fat, they are low in sodium and you can eat one for only 130 calories. Why are people so afraid of potatoes? Since Atkins, we have been very cautious with our carbs. This is fair enough, I have noticed myself that proteins fill me up more quickly than carbohydrates and that carbs are very easy to overeat.

Did you know that you CAN lose weight eating potatoes on the paleo diet? Check out Ways to eat cold potatoes on the paleo diet and still lose weight

Some of my immediate family are afraid of potatoes, as are half my gorgeous girlfriends. Some of them will not eat a potato, piece of white bread, rice, pasta or even cous cous… a couple of them are even gluten free (incidentally potatoes ARE gluten-free). People fear carbs and fear them irrationally, if you ask me. Eaten in the correct quantities, carbohydrates are a useful thing to have on your plate or in your pantry. They are also cheap and a good source of fibre and energy.

21 cool things about potatoes

#1: Potatoes were eaten by 19th Century English and Spanish sailors to fend off scurvy.

#2: Potatoes are good for your bones! A Spanish study found that manganese (found in taters) helped prevent bone loss in rats.

#3: Potatoes are nutrient-dense, meaning you receive many nutrients for the amount of calories they have.

#4: They might help to control your blood sugar too. They have a high-soluble fibre content. Should you be eating your potatoes COLD? Some researchers say that “When potatoes are chilled after cooking, some of the gelatinised starch is converted into a more solid, crystalline form of starch that can’t be digested, called resistant starch.” Resistant starch is supposed to be better for your bowel. Not sure if I believe this one, personally!

#5: There are about 5,000 potato varieties worldwide. Bet you never knew this about potatoes!

#6: Potatoes as a good source of vitamin B6, vitamin C, copper, potassium, manganese, and dietary fibre.

#7: A new study by an Agricultural Research Service plant identified 60 different kinds of phytochemicals and vitamins in the skins and flesh of 100 wild and commercially grown potatoes. That’s more than in broccoli, spinach and Brussels sprouts.

#8: Researchers at the Institute for Food Research in Norwich have found blood-pressure lowering molecules in potatoes called kukoamines.

#9: The ORAC value (a measure of the total antioxidants in 100 grams) for a medium baked potato with skin is a healthy 1,680, while that of a baked sweet potato with skin is 766. Compare those with the values for carrots, either cooked (317) or raw (666).

#10: A single baked potato will provide nearly 12 per cent of the daily recommended amount of fibre, giving similar levels to whole grain breads, pastas and cereals.

#11: With the exception of vitamin A, white potatoes have just about every nutrient, including vitamin C. However, since we do not eat potatoes raw, most of the vitamin C is lost due to the heat of cooking…bummer.

#12: In addition to potatoes, researchers looked at tomatoes since they belong to the same plant family—Solanaceae—as Lycium chinense.

#13: A banana has 9% of your daily potassium needs, a baked regular potato has twice as much, 20%

#14: Potato plants are herbaceous perennials that grow about 60 cm (24 in) high, depending on the variety.

#15: The potato was first domesticated in the region of modern-day southern Peru.

#16: The United Nations FAO reports that the world production of potatoes in 2010 was about 324 million tonnes.

#17: Want to make Alyce’s favourite creamy potatoes? Of course you do! Here is a link to the Best Potato Recipe you will find today.

#18: Also – ROSTI is one of my favourite ways to eat potatoes. I have been very, very lucky to have someone cook me rosti a few times and it always makes me smile and dance. Make your own rosti at home.

#19: In Australia, we call French fries “chips” and we call potato crisps/chips “chips” as well. If you come to Australia, you need to specify if you want hot chips or regular chips. It’s usually down to context, anyway. Want to know more about potatoes?

#20: Chris McCandless is thought to have died from toxic potatoes. I urge you to read about his story. They made a movie about it, but basically, in 1992, the decomposed body of Christopher McCandless was discovered by moose hunters just outside the northern boundary of Denali National Park. He was a rich kid who disappeared into the wilderness, and has a very interesting story.

#21: Vodka is made from potatoes. I don’t much like vodka – but it is an interesting fact about potatoes.