We all love potatoes! We know that potatoes are loaded with carbohydrates and they are often cooked in lots of oil and butter, so a common belief is that they make us fat. So, do potatoes really make you fat? Lets find out -

Potato is the most popular vegetable because of its nutritional value and ease of cooking. It is the world's fourth-largest food crop, following rice, wheat and maize.

- Eating Potatoes ensure good supply of water and ions in human body.

- They are rich in potassium, vitamin C, phosphorus, calcium and iron.

- Eating the skin of Potatoes is always beneficial.

- Potatoes look very big in size, but water accounts for about 70-80% of the total weight of a Potato.

Nutrition in Potato:

Humans can actually survive healthily on a diet of potatoes supplemented only with milk, which contain the two vitamins not provided by potatoes (vitamins A and D). One Potato contains vitamins and minerals, as well as an assortment of phytochemicals, such as carotenoids and polyphenols. A medium size 150 grams (5.3 oz) Potato with skin provides 27 mg of vitamin C (45% of the Daily Value (DV)), 620 mg of potassium (18% of DV), 0.2 mg of vitamin B6 (10% of DV) and trace amounts of thiamin, riboflavin, folate, niacin, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc. The fiber content of a Potato with skin (2 grams) is equivalent to that of many whole grain breads, pastas, and cereals.

Potato contains approximately 26 grams of carbohydrate content in a medium sized Potato. The predominant form of this carbohydrate is starch. A small but significant portion of this starch is resistant to digestion by enzymes in the stomach and small intestine, and so reaches the large intestine essentially intact. This resistant starch is considered to have similar physiological effects and health benefits as fiber. It provides bulk, offers protection against colon cancer, improves glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, lowers plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations, increases satiety, and possibly even reduces fat storage. The amount of resistant starch in Potatoes depends much on preparation methods. Cooking and then cooling Potatoes significantly increased resistant starch. For example, cooked Potato starch contains about 7% resistant starch, which increases to about 13% upon cooling.

Nutritional Facts of 100 grams of Potato:

Calories - 77

Carbohydrates - 19 grams

Fat - 0.1 grams

Protein - 2 grams

Water - 75 grams

Starch - 15 grams

Vitamins B6 - 0.25 Mg

Vitamin C - 20 Mg

Health Tips for Potatoes:

As you have read, there is no fat content in Potatoes. So the belief that you become fat by eating Potatoes is a misconception. Of course if your Potato servings contain large quantities of butter, or if you cant keep away from those high in fat and cholesterol French fries, you are bound to become overweight.

A healthy way to eat them is baked with a little bit of cream and cheese sprinkled on top. If you can eat, with the skin - its loaded with fiber. Eaten the right way, they could actually help you losing it(weight) and build muscles!