Glycoalkaloids are a potentially toxic family of chemical compounds found in the nightshade family of plants. Potatoes contain them, including two specific types called solanine and chaconine. Green potatoes, in particular, are especially high in glycoalkaloids.
Sprouted potatoes contain higher levels of glycoalkaloids, which can be toxic to humans when eaten in excess.
Yes, a plain baked potato is a healthy food, especially when it is consumed with its fiber-rich skin. But because its nutrient profile and composition is different from other vegetables (it has more starch than leafy greens, for example), it shouldn't be the only vegetable in your diet.
Like any food, potatoes are fine to eat in moderation. “Healthy food choices should include a variety of starchy and non-starchy vegetables,” says Dunn. “In fact, the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans includes up to 5 cups a week of starchy vegetables for those needing 2,000 calories a day.”
Key takeaways: Potatoes contain several important nutrients, including fiber, potassium, and carbohydrates. You can get additional antioxidants from colorful varieties, such as sweet potatoes and purple potatoes.
According to Julie Upton, MS, RD, and member of our Medical Expert Board, the healthiest way to eat your potatoes is to leave the skin on and bake them. "The healthiest way to eat a potato is baking it with the skin on," says Upton. "Baked potatoes add no additional calories like frying or roasting with oil."
Yellow and purple potatoes are high in antioxidants such as phenols, carotenoids, and anthocyanins. Research suggests these antioxidants may help fight inflammation and reduce the risk of inflammation-related conditions. Purple-fleshed potatoes seem to give the most benefit.
But a word of caution: “Skinless white potatoes have a very high glycemic index — meaning they raise your blood sugar quickly,” says Kate Patton, MEd, RD, CSSD, LD. Depending on what you eat with a skinless white potato, you may experience a blood sugar crash and quick drop in energy.
The information gathered leads us to a conclusion that rice, especially brown or parboiled kind (white one with added nutrients) is a better choice than potatoes thanks to its high vitamin content and low glycemic index.
Yes, baked potatoes are healthy. There's nothing inherently wrong with including potatoes in an otherwise healthy, balanced diet. The only pitfall here is preparation. A plain baked potato is a rich source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals that provide protein, and is low in fat and sodium.
While they can certainly be prepared in unhealthy ways—such as oil-drenched french fries or salty potato chips—potatoes in and of themselves are not unhealthy; in fact, they're incredibly nutritious and are foundational to a whole-food, plant-based diet.
Why are French fries unhealthy? A. If you eat a lot of fries fried in a lot of oil, they are probably saturated fats. Saturated fat consumption can elevate “bad” LDL cholesterol levels, which is unhealthy.
Red potatoes are particularly healthy because of the thin, nutrient filled skins, which are loaded with fiber, B vitamins, iron and potassium. Half of the fiber of a potato comes from the skin. On red potatoes in particular, the skin is already super thin, so it doesn't detract from the taste or texture.
Raw potatoes should be firm to the touch with tight skin that's free of large bruises, black spots, or other blemishes. If a potato has become soft or mushy, you should throw it out. Though it's normal for potatoes to smell earthy or nutty, a musty or moldy odor is a hallmark of spoilage.
Potatoes are 80 percent water, so softness is usually just a sign of dehydration. But if they're extremely mushy or shriveled, do not pass go. Likewise, small sprouts can be removed with a vegetable peeler or knife. Long or large sprouts are a sign that the potato is probably past its prime and should be tossed.
Potatoes are rich in carbohydrates and fibre, though their nutrients vary depending on the type and method that they're cooked, generally speaking they're not an unhealthy food.
Baked, mashed, or boiled, potatoes actually provide more energy-delivering complex carbohydrates than a cup of pasta. All varieties--russet, red, yellow, purple, and sweet--contain impressive quantities of vitamins and minerals. Plus, they're easy to digest and prepare.
And unlike white bread, the starch in potatoes hasn't been refined to deplete nutrients. Potatoes also deliver niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin C and magnesium. They're a great source of potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure.
Sweet Potatoes
Cooked potatoes of all varieties are examples of easy to digest foods. Sweet potatoes are especially gentle on the digestive tract because they are mostly made up of insoluble fiber, which speeds up digestion and promotes regularity.
[1] However, potatoes don't count as a vegetable on Harvard's Healthy Eating Plate because they are high in the type of carbohydrate that the body digests rapidly, causing blood sugar and insulin to surge and then dip (in scientific terms, they have a high glycemic load).
Calories, Fat and Protein
They are also similar in caloric content. A cup of plain white rice has 242 calories and brown rice contains 216. A medium baked potato falls between them with 230 calories. Rice, with 5 grams of protein per cup, has slightly more protein than a potato, with 3 grams.
Nightshade vegetables, such as potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplants, contain solanine. This substance may increase the leakiness of the intestines and affect the gastrointestinal microbiota, indirectly increasing the inflammation relating to arthritis.
Breads, rolls, crackers, white rice, white potatoes, mashed potatoes, and many cereals are refined carbohydrates. These are high-glycemic foods that contribute to obesity, health conditions and can stimulate inflammation.
Waxy potatoes have less starch than Starchy potatoes and contain more moisture and sugar. They are often smaller with a waxy outer skin and a creamy, firm and moist flesh. When to use: Waxy potatoes hold their shape well after cooking so are great for boiling, roasting or slicing.