Are Potatoes Healthy?

Potatoes are a universally eaten and much loved staple around the world. From curries to pasta to dumplings, potatoes get a lot of love in many cuisines. However, as more people have become health-conscious and try diets like keto or paleo, carbs like potato have people wary. So let's break down what exactly the vegetable provides and why it doesn’t have to be the enemy.

Do potatoes have any nutritional value?

A medium sized potato that has been baked and has the skin on does have some great nutritional benefits:

• Good source of fibre
• 5g of protein
• High in vitamin C and B6 — 37% and 31% of recommended daily intake respectively
• Great source of potassium and manganese

So, are potatoes healthy?

In its most basic form, potatoes are absolutely a great food to incorporate into a balanced diet. It is naturally low in calories (a medium baked potato is only around 150 kcal) and can keep you feeling full for longer. While potatoes are a versatile food that can be played with to make some real decadent delights (looking at you, chunky chips), you don’t have to cut potatoes out of your diet completely (or chips and other potato-ey comfort food, for that matter!). 

Over a third of our diets should be made from starchy vegetables and carbohydrates like potatoes, according to the NHS. So while our favourite fried potato foods shouldn’t make up that whole third, it's perfectly fine to have it in moderation as a treat to be enjoyed. And boiled and baked potatoes are great in a balanced diet. 

Got some health-based questions you want to throw at us? Let us know in the comments below!