Potatoes Gluten Free?
Are Potatoes Gluten Free?
Happily, yes, potatoes are definitely gluten free.
Potatoes are not just an empty "white food", contrary to some people's belief. Many healthy populations have thrived on tubers like potatoes for centuries. Even the common white potato is a good source of nutrients, and a wise choice for the gluten free dieter.
3 Great Things About Potatoes in Gluten Free Diets
1. Simple and Quick to Prepare
Peel them and slice them, if you like, then cook them the way you prefer. No need to stick with classics like mashed or baked potatoes, you can also slow cook them, sous-vide them, fry them, microwave them, and pop them like popcorn. Okay, I'm kidding about the popping, but potatoes are truly versatile, so you can cook them in an endless number of ways. You can even make gluten free cake out of potato flour.
2. Ease of Digestion
Potatoes, especially when peeled and steamed or boiled, are usually very easy to digest. For some people the skins can be hard to digest, so discarding the skin is a good idea. In fact, it's a good idea to discard the skin even if you don't think you have digestive issues with it because, in general, the fibrous skins on vegetables can block mineral absorption.
Most of a potatoes nutrients is in the flesh, so don't worry about missing out on the fiber in the skin. Get your fiber, if you need it, elsewhere.
3. Source of Complete Protein
Although the potato is primarily starch, it also contains protein, and complete protein at that, meaning that the protein contains all 9 of the essential amino acids the body requires. This is unusual for a plant food. The amount of protein per potato is small, but it can contribute to your protein needs in an enjoyable way, and there is reason to believe that favoring tubers, like potatoes, over grains (including gluten free grains) as a carbohydrate source, is better for health overall, so the protein is a nice bonus.
Potatoes have a long and positive history of consumption by humans. They provide an easily digested, easily prepared, nutritious food source that is gluten free.
Happily, yes, potatoes are definitely gluten free.
Potatoes are not just an empty "white food", contrary to some people's belief. Many healthy populations have thrived on tubers like potatoes for centuries. Even the common white potato is a good source of nutrients, and a wise choice for the gluten free dieter.
3 Great Things About Potatoes in Gluten Free Diets
1. Simple and Quick to Prepare
Peel them and slice them, if you like, then cook them the way you prefer. No need to stick with classics like mashed or baked potatoes, you can also slow cook them, sous-vide them, fry them, microwave them, and pop them like popcorn. Okay, I'm kidding about the popping, but potatoes are truly versatile, so you can cook them in an endless number of ways. You can even make gluten free cake out of potato flour.
2. Ease of Digestion
Potatoes, especially when peeled and steamed or boiled, are usually very easy to digest. For some people the skins can be hard to digest, so discarding the skin is a good idea. In fact, it's a good idea to discard the skin even if you don't think you have digestive issues with it because, in general, the fibrous skins on vegetables can block mineral absorption.
Most of a potatoes nutrients is in the flesh, so don't worry about missing out on the fiber in the skin. Get your fiber, if you need it, elsewhere.
3. Source of Complete Protein
Although the potato is primarily starch, it also contains protein, and complete protein at that, meaning that the protein contains all 9 of the essential amino acids the body requires. This is unusual for a plant food. The amount of protein per potato is small, but it can contribute to your protein needs in an enjoyable way, and there is reason to believe that favoring tubers, like potatoes, over grains (including gluten free grains) as a carbohydrate source, is better for health overall, so the protein is a nice bonus.
Potatoes have a long and positive history of consumption by humans. They provide an easily digested, easily prepared, nutritious food source that is gluten free.