baked potatoes are good carbs

[Angela Mac]

A baked potato (with the skin) a couple of times a week will lower your blood pressure. The magic ingredient, being potassium, may also help prevent stroke, osteoporosis and kidney stones (per The Washington Post). If we get too little potassium, it can cause fatigue, muscle cramps, bloating and fatal irregular heartbeats. Anyone over age 14 needs 5 grams of potassium a day (from foods, not supplements). The use of potassium salt can cause dangerously high levels of potassium, which can lead to heart problems & death. Five grams is the amount in 10 servings of fruits & vegies. Other foods rich in potassium-

low-fat vanilla yogurt, milk, grapefruit, bananas, acorn squash, raw spinach, strawberries, broccoli, oranges & watermelon.:)

On Monday, the U.s Dept. Of Health & Human Services reported that 65 million Americans have hypertension. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, kidney failure, & stroke.

[kyboyrn]

Baked potatoes may be a good source of potassium, but the post is a little misleading. Baked potatoes, or potatoes in general, are composed almost entirely of starch which you know is a simple sugar, so it is quickly broken down and causes a "sugar" spike. A better alternative, ironically enough, is a baked sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are made up of more complex carbohydrates, so they are broken down slower leading to less of a glycemic response. Still, potatoes are good for their calcium; just stay away from the fried kind.