Sweet Potato vs Regular Potato: which one is healthier? 🍠
Both potatoes are exceptionally delicious - but are sweet potatoes really that much better for us?
Sweet potatoes have been on our health food radar for a good while now. Touted as the “healthy” cousin to the humble white potato, the sweet potato definitely has a whole host of health benefits - not to mention that they are super delicious and versatile in the kitchen too. 🍠 V 🥔
Let’s take a look at how these compare:
Nutritional profiles
Surprisingly enough, contrary to what you might believe from every nutritional infographic you see on Instagram, white potatoes aren’t actually all that bad for you. They are an excellent source of many nutrients including vitamin c, potassium, carbohydrate, and protein. You might be surprised to hear that they actually have similar amounts of all of these nutrients as sweet potatoes - not that different after all! 🤔
Vitamin A
Sweet potato definitely tips the scale in its favour with its levels of vitamin A. They get their orange colour from their beta-carotene which is a component of the vitamin which supports healthy eyesight, the immune and reproductive systems. One medium sweet potato is all that is needed to hit your daily vitamin A requirements! 🎉
Potato minerals
White potatoes, however, are an excellent source of potassium! Potassium is super important in supporting cell activity in the body - regulating fluid balance and a healthy nervous system. 💪
So which potato is actually better for you?
In a nutshell - both! As with most things in life, balance is key here. Both potatoes can find a place in a healthy diet. It’s important to remember that preparation is key and if you’re using a lot of fats to prepare them then even the healthiest foods can become a little too indulgent on the daily. 💭
With some care to the preparation method and portion sizes, both sweet and regular white potatoes can add a little happiness - and nutrients - to our diet.
Which potato is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below! 👇🏼
Comments