Is mashed potatoes healthier than pasta?

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.

runnersworld.com - Potatoes: The Perfect Carb | Runner's World

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For many runners, pasta is such a staple that meal-planning means choosing between penne and linguine. And for good reason: Pasta is high in carbs, it's easy to prepare, not to mention it's tasty. But runners who fuel up on only noodles may be overlooking a carb source that's just as good, if not better: the potato. 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. "People often assume that because potatoes are white, they're a nutritionally empty food," says Tara Gidus, R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. "But the opposite is true." Potatoes are actually the most popular vegetable in America, but sadly more than 50 percent of those are fried--turning them into a nutritional disaster, which helps account for their bad rap. It doesn't have to be this way. "A large baked potato is just as effective as pasta at getting runners ready for a hard or long workout," says Gidus. "Runners can't go wrong with potatoes."

Hot Potato

Spuds, of course, don't come with a handy Nutrition Facts label, which makes it easy to forget their impressive benefits. One large russet potato contains 63 grams of carbohydrates, zero grams of fat, eight grams of protein, and seven grams of fiber. It also provides 64 percent of your Daily Value of vitamin C, 53 percent of B6, and 1,600 milligrams of potassium--three times the amount in one large banana--which is critical for fluid balance and muscle function. A one-cup serving of sweet potatoes offers more than 700 percent of your Daily Value of vitamin A, 65 percent of vitamin C, and seven grams of fiber. All potatoes are rich sources of antioxidants, and russets rank among the top 20 vegetables containing these free radical fighting compounds. And contrary to common belief, you don't have to eat the whole thing if you don't want to. "People think that all the nutrients are in the skin, but that's not true," says Katherine Beals, Ph.D., an associate professor of nutrition at the University of Utah. While skipping the skin reduces your fiber intake by about half, the majority of the vitamins and minerals hide in the flesh inside. What to Eat When

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Potatoes rank high on the glycemic index--higher than pasta--which means their carbs get into the bloodstream fast. So quickly, in fact, that some ultramarathoners and Ironman athletes reach for boiled, skinless white potatoes during long endurance events. If snacking on a plain spud midrun is a little too odd for your tastes, tap into longer-lasting energy by topping a potato with low-fat cottage cheese or serving it alongside four ounces of chicken or fish. "You lower potatoes' GI profile by eating them with fat or protein," says Leslie Bonci, R.D., director of sports medicine nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Eating foods low on the glycemic index--which means the sugars are processed more slowly, delivering a steadier stream of energy--improves endurance, according to a 2006 study published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. Postrun, potatoes replenish carbs quickly, and topped with protein, such as Greek yogurt or low-fat chili, help repair muscle fibers. Plus, the vitamin A in sweet potatoes aids new cell growth and repairs postworkout microtears in muscle, helping you recover and refuel for your next run. A perfect runners' food--just steer clear of the fries.