An apple a day 
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Everyone's Favourite Vege - Potatoes!
CARBO FACTS
One of the most popular nutritional myths today concerns the dietary evils of carbohydrates. Despite the media hype, scientific evidence indicates that when consumed in normal amounts...
* Carbohydrates DO NOT cause weight gain and obesity
* Carbohydrates DO NOT automatically cause blood sugar "spikes" and insulin "surges"
* Carbohydrates DO NOT cause diabetes, heart disease or cancer.
Carbohydrates are the body's primary fuel source. Muscles prefer them and the brain relies on them.
In fact, carbohydrates are so crucial to the body that if you severely cut them from your diet, your
body will begin to breakdown muscle and other protein containing tissues—your heart and other
vital organs—in order to make them.
WATCHING YOUR WEIGHT—AND HEALTH
Leading nutrition experts agree that weight gain is a result of consuming more calories than you expend, regardless of where those calories come from—carbohydrates, protein or fat. Maintaining that important calorie balance is easier with a diet that is rich in a variety of fruits and vegetables as these foods tend to be low in calorie content, yet high in essential nutrients.
THE HEALTHFUL POTATO
Misinformation and misconceptions regarding the nutritional value of the potato abound. In fact, an average (~5.3 oz) potato with the skin contains:
* 45% of the daily value for vitamin C
* as much or more potassium (720 mg) than either bananas, spinach or broccoli
* trace amounts of thiamin, riboflavin, folate, magnesium, phosphorous, iron and zinc
* all for only 100 calories and no fat.
And potatoes with the skin on are an excellent source of fiber. In fact, with 3 grams of fiber per serving, a potato equals or exceeds that of many "whole" grain products—whole grain bread, whole wheat pasta and many cereals.
Despite the popular notion, the majority of nutrients are not found in the skin, but in the potato itself. Nonetheless, leaving the skin on the potatoes retains all the nutrients and makes them easier to prepare.
- taken from Washington Potatoes
One of the most popular nutritional myths today concerns the dietary evils of carbohydrates. Despite the media hype, scientific evidence indicates that when consumed in normal amounts...
* Carbohydrates DO NOT cause weight gain and obesity
* Carbohydrates DO NOT automatically cause blood sugar "spikes" and insulin "surges"
* Carbohydrates DO NOT cause diabetes, heart disease or cancer.
Carbohydrates are the body's primary fuel source. Muscles prefer them and the brain relies on them.
In fact, carbohydrates are so crucial to the body that if you severely cut them from your diet, your
body will begin to breakdown muscle and other protein containing tissues—your heart and other
vital organs—in order to make them.
WATCHING YOUR WEIGHT—AND HEALTH
Leading nutrition experts agree that weight gain is a result of consuming more calories than you expend, regardless of where those calories come from—carbohydrates, protein or fat. Maintaining that important calorie balance is easier with a diet that is rich in a variety of fruits and vegetables as these foods tend to be low in calorie content, yet high in essential nutrients.
THE HEALTHFUL POTATO
Misinformation and misconceptions regarding the nutritional value of the potato abound. In fact, an average (~5.3 oz) potato with the skin contains:
* 45% of the daily value for vitamin C
* as much or more potassium (720 mg) than either bananas, spinach or broccoli
* trace amounts of thiamin, riboflavin, folate, magnesium, phosphorous, iron and zinc
* all for only 100 calories and no fat.
And potatoes with the skin on are an excellent source of fiber. In fact, with 3 grams of fiber per serving, a potato equals or exceeds that of many "whole" grain products—whole grain bread, whole wheat pasta and many cereals.
Despite the popular notion, the majority of nutrients are not found in the skin, but in the potato itself. Nonetheless, leaving the skin on the potatoes retains all the nutrients and makes them easier to prepare.
- taken from Washington Potatoes
# posted by raunaq : 6:46 PM
