We’ve all heard it at least once: “Avoid potatoes, they’re too high in calories.” And yet nutrition experts and doctors are seriously trying to explain it. Potatoes are not at all the enemy of our balanced diet. On the contrary. It all depends on one thing, which is often overlooked, that makes a big difference. Ready to change your relationship with this iconic French vegetable?
The potato has a very bad reputation… But does he really deserve it?
Since the heyday of the low-carbohydrate diet, the humble potato has been on the bench. It is avoided, replaced and even blamed on it. Nutrition experts, however, are firm: this vegetable is not problematic in itself. The real problem? What we do with it in the kitchen. French fries liberally dipped in oil, mashed potatoes covered with butter and cream… This is where calories skyrocket, not in the vegetable itself.
The potatoes are cooked in a simple way – in water, steamed or baked – and are still a low-fat and very nutritious product.
What does a potato actually contain (and it will surprise you)
A medium-sized potato, eaten with the skin on, contains only about 160 calories, which really impresses with its nutritional value:
– Vitamin C: about 70 per cent of the recommended daily intake – Vitamin B6: almost 30 per cent, excellent for metabolism and brain function – Potassium: 25 per cent, a key mineral for muscle and blood pressure – Fiber: 4 grams, ideal for digestion – Magnesium and iron: 12 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively, of the recommended daily intake – Fat: 0 grams. Yes, zero.
This nutritional profile makes it one of the most complete and readily available vegetables for daily consumption. Pretty good for a product we used to avoid!
In fact, the whole secret lies in the cooking process itself.
This is a key point which specialists tirelessly underline: the problem is not the potato itself, but the way it is cooked. Steamed, steamed or baked in the oven with some olive oil and aromatic spices, it retains all its properties without weighing down the plate.
Skin fibers help digestion and extend the feeling of satiety – perfectly to avoid afternoon hunger. Vitamin C strengthens the immune system and takes care of the skin. Potassium ensures that the muscles function properly and helps maintain a balanced blood pressure.
So instead of completely excluding it from the menu, take the right path: choose mild cooking methods, don’t peel it off, and choose light toppings.
Ziemniak deserved his rehabilitation – and he proved it in its entirety.
