Myra's Lifestyles

“Eat the skins they are full of vitamins,” my mom used to say. Likely it is your parents or someone in your young life said the same to you. Now that I am older, much older, I heard it again today from my wife Myra. Do potato skins really have more vitamins? Let’s see …

It is no secret potatoes are a good source of potassium. In fact a medium baked potato contains 926 mg of potassium which is higher than almost every other American vegetable except chard and lima beans. In fact we often think “eat a banana” when thinking of potassium intake but a medium baked potato contains double the amount of potassium as a medium banana.?Avocados contain more potassium than bananas! Potassium is probably potatoes’ greatest contribution to your body.

Potassium is essential for good heart function. Heart function is important – at least mine is. It also helps the body regulate blood pressure. Oddly enough that affect is somewhat nullified when the potatoes are fried and not baked.

But of all the vitamins and minerals, vitamin C being the most?prevalent?vitamin?in potatoes, is it true they are more concentrated in the skin than in the meat?

According to Potatoes.com and the Washington Potato Grower’s Association, “Despite the popular notion,?the majority of nutrients are not found in the skin, but in the potato itself. Nonetheless, leaving the skin on the potatoes retains all the nutrients, the fiber in the skin and makes potatoes easier to prepare.”

There you have it boys and girls! The skins are just like the potatoes but with more fiber.

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