While potatoes do not have vitamin D, they are packed with several other nutrients. Potatoes are loaded with potassium, an electrolyte you need to balance fluid levels; iron, a mineral that aids in oxygen transport to each and every cell; and B vitamins, which work together to keep your metabolism going.
Potatoes for health and nutrition
They're rich in vitamin C, which is an antioxidant. Potatoes were a life-saving food source in early times because the vitamin C prevented scurvy. Another major nutrient in potatoes is potassium, an electrolyte which aids in the workings of our heart, muscles, and nervous system.
The best sources are the flesh of fatty fish and fish liver oils. Smaller amounts are found in egg yolks, cheese, and beef liver.
"A diet of just potatoes will be deficient in vitamins A, E and K, the minerals calcium and selenium, essential fatty acids, protein and dietary fibre. Although they may provide enough iron for a man, they will not provide enough iron for women.
Boiling potatoes causes water-soluble nutrients, such as vitamin C and potassium, to leach out ( 2 ). This results in slightly less nutritious potatoes. The longer you boil, the more nutrients are lost. Boiling potatoes in their skin helps to retain some of the water-soluble nutrients.
1) Bone health
The iron, phosphorous, calcium, magnesium, and zinc in potatoes all help the body to build and maintain bone structure and strength.
Nope, no vitamin D here. But bananas do contain plenty of magnesium. And guess what? Among the many reasons you need magnesium is that once your vitamin D is in your bloodstream, the magnesium puts it to work, making magnesium a must-have in order for you to access the many benefits of vitamin D.
Fortified Milk Offers a Double Whammy: Vitamin D and Calcium
Fortified plant-based milks, such as soy and almond, can provide similar amounts of vitamin D. Enjoy a cold 8 oz glass of your preferred fortified milk straight, blend it into a smoothie, or use it to whip up your choice of coffee drink.
With a serve of two eggs providing 82% of your daily recommended intake of vitamin D, eggs contain one of the highest quantities of vitamin D of any food.
Red Desiree Potatoes are part of the Red Potato family and are considered to be the healthiest of all potatoes, as they contain the highest levels of vitamins, minerals and healthy phytochemicals.
Potatoes are a rich source of fiber, iron, vitamin C and vitamin B-6, but to get the most nutrients you'll need to eat the whole potato. The skin contributes more of some nutrients while the flesh has more of others.
Although carrots have no vitamin D, they contain other important nutrients that can benefit your health.
Unfortunately, no fruits are high in vitamin D, and fortified orange juice is currently the only fruit product commonly sold with vitamin D.
In general, the two main causes of vitamin D deficiency are: Not getting enough vitamin D in your diet and/or through sunlight. Your body isn't properly absorbing or using vitamin D.
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning that it does not dissolve in water and is absorbed best in your bloodstream when paired with high fat foods ( 1 ). For this reason, it's recommended to take vitamin D supplements with a meal to enhance absorption.
According to a 2011 review , the vitamin E, beta carotene, vitamin D, protein, lecithin, and essential fatty acids in the oil can support healing and soothe the skin. Other small studies have shown that consuming avocados may help to protect the skin from harmful UV radiation.
Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency may include:
Fatigue. Not sleeping well. Bone pain or achiness. Depression or feelings of sadness.
Mushrooms
Except vitamin D fruit juices and milk, mushrooms are the only plant-based foods that are a good source of vitamin D. Just like humans, mushrooms too synthesize this vitamin when exposed to sunlight.
Among the chocolates, dark chocolate had the highest vitamin D2 content (ranging from 1.90 to 5.48 µg/100 g), white chocolate had the lowest vitamin D2 content (ranging from 0.19 to 1.91 µg/100 g), and chocolate nut spreads had a comparatively low vitamin D2 content, with an average of 0.15 µg/100 g.
Iron helps your body make collagen to rebuild bone. It also plays a part in getting oxygen into your bones to help them heal. Good sources: Red meat, dark-meat chicken or turkey, oily fish, eggs, dried fruits, leafy green veggies, whole-grain breads, and fortified cereals.
Eating foods that have a lot of salt (sodium) causes your body to lose calcium and can lead to bone loss. Try to limit the amount of processed foods, canned foods and salt added to the foods you eat each day. To learn if a food is high in sodium, look at the Nutrition Facts label.