I have taken a little well-deserved flack for my "french-fry addiction".  But I have also been asked, "Are all potatoes bad for you? What about yams and sweet potatoes?'

As with just about everything in diet, nutrition and healthcare, there are many conflicting opinions. But since you are reading this newsletter, I am assuming you will be interested in hearing mine. If not just skip to the end of the page where you will find wonderful links  to all of our tremendous Wellness Plans and programs ; )

But now back to the spuds!

Potatoes are very high in carbohydrates but also contain many minerals that our body needs. White potatoes are known to increase sugars in diabetics and pre-diabetics. But what about sweet potatoes and yams? You would think that sweet potatoes would be bad for low-carb dieters, as their name "sweet potato" must contain a large amount of sugar. To test this hypothesis, Tom Naughton, of "Fat Head- The Movie" fame, experimented with sweet potatoes in his diet by testing his glucose or sugar reading after eating these yummy taters for breakfast. Here is a link to his blog post. 

My suggestion. I would not eat potatoes or yams alone. No matter how many vitamins and minerals they contain, the carb-load is still too high when eaten alone. But, when eaten as a side dish, with a protein and healthy fat food, such as eggs, meat, chicken or fish, they can be enjoyed. In fact, here is one of my favorite recipes for sweet potato fries!