Potatoes are among the most ancient and basic foods, topping the list as the number one vegetable crop in the United States and the world. These tubers have been cultivated for as long as 10,000 years by the Indians living in the Andean mountain regions and today are often considered comfort food by people around the world.
For all of their history and nutritional and health benefits (which I will get to in a moment), some people on low-carb diets banish potatoes from their diets because the spuds are a source of carbohydrates. While limiting simple carbs is a wise choice for nearly everyone, it’s important to include complex carbohydrates in your diet on a daily basis since they are a major source of energy for the brain and body. In addition, complex carbs, unlike simple carbs, retain their nutrients, are a significant source of fiber, aid digestion, and are metabolized more slowly by the body.
