Potatoes may not be the fat-gain ogres that many dieticians claim, a New Zealand study has found.
Foods like potatoes and white bread with a high glycemic index (GI) are absorbed quickly by the body, triggering a spike in blood pressure, and are often painted as villains for dieters.
But a study by researchers at University of Otago found that when you eat these carbohydrates as part of a meal of meat and vegetables the effects are barely felt.
Bernard Venn and his colleagues enlisted 30 healthy young people and monitored the GI levels of three different meals, including one with potatoes as a side dish.
Surprisingly, said Dr Venn, this meal was low on the glycemic index, meaning the food will burn off slowly, even though it contained an ingredient many fear for its potential weight-gain properties.
"I don't think people should be too afraid of putting high-GI foods into their meals," Dr Venn said.
"Our work suggests that having a small amount of potato with a meal isn't going to drive your blood sugar crazy."
Foods like potatoes and white bread with a high glycemic index (GI) are absorbed quickly by the body, triggering a spike in blood pressure, and are often painted as villains for dieters.
But a study by researchers at University of Otago found that when you eat these carbohydrates as part of a meal of meat and vegetables the effects are barely felt.
Bernard Venn and his colleagues enlisted 30 healthy young people and monitored the GI levels of three different meals, including one with potatoes as a side dish.
Surprisingly, said Dr Venn, this meal was low on the glycemic index, meaning the food will burn off slowly, even though it contained an ingredient many fear for its potential weight-gain properties.
"Our work suggests that having a small amount of potato with a meal isn't going to drive your blood sugar crazy."
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