How healthy are potatoes?

Sweet potatoes tend to get most of the nutritional glory, but regular potatoes (russets, fingerlings, red and Yukon Golds) deserve another look. The tubers help to support your immune system, aid in various bodily functions and keep you energised.

- ALEXANDRA PATTILLO

"Potatoes often get a bad reputation" because they’re commonly eaten in the form of French fries or potato chips, said Tal Kleiner, a clinical nutrition manager at NYU Langone Health in New York City. But when they’re prepared in a healthy way, potatoes are an “amazing, nutrient-dense” food, she added.

THEY STOKE YOUR ENERGY

Potatoes are high in carbohydrates (a medium-size peeled russet potato has about 35g), but that doesn’t make them “inherently bad”, explained Tara Schmidt, a dietitian and instructor of nutrition at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota — it just means they may not be considered an “unlimited” food.

Potatoes are complex carbs that take longer for the body to break down and digest than simple carbs, so they provide a steadier source of energy, which helps you feel fuelled and fuller for longer, Kleiner said.