White potatoes are one of the least liked foods on the planet. One of the most common foods eaten all over the world is potatoes.
But most of us take them for granted. Tubers or tubers as they’re also called are one of the most widely consumed vegetables in the world and a staple food for billions of people.
Potatoes are extremely versatile and can be eaten raw, cooked, or processed into starchy white, purple or yellow varieties.
But there’s one part of the potato that we love: the humble potato skin. Why? The skin is packed with fiber, minerals, and antioxidants.
The skin of an Idaho potato is about 15 percent of the potato’s weight. For this reason, potatoes are one of the lowest-calorie foods you can eat.
Potatoes are high in complex carbohydrates, like fiber. Fiber isn’t digested, so it stays in the gut and moves through the digestive tract. Fiber keeps your gut moving and your stools regular. Fiber also helps you feel full.A potato skin has about 9 g of fiber or 44 percent of the recommended daily intake. Skip the deep-fried potato chips, though. These contain very little fiber.
Potatoes are also a good source of vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium, which are important for bone health, blood pressure, and heart health.
The skin contains significant amounts of antioxidant carotenoids: alpha-carotene and beta-carotene. Carotenoids provide many protective functions in the body. They help the eyes see, the liver repair, and the skin age slowly.
The potato skin is also loaded with minerals like potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Potassium helps maintain water and sodium balance and helps maintain normal blood pressure. Magnesium helps keep muscle and nerve function normal. Calcium helps build healthy bones and teeth.
The skin of an Idaho potato is also rich in antioxidants. It contains high concentrations of vitamin C, vitamin K, and flavonoids. These antioxidants offer protection against cell damage.
