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I heard that potatoes raise blood sugar more than sugar. Is this true? I've always thought potatoes were evil, why are so many paleos' enjoying them?

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I had a baked potato last night (yes a white potato eeeek!), I felt so guilty.. but it was soooooo good. – thatonecrazylady Jun 26 2011 at 1:38
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 I think they are evil too – Mark Jun 26 2011 at 1:38
Are you guys being sarcastic? – Nico Jun 26 2011 at 7:16
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 Because your premise is flawed; You've assumed a food that raises serum glucose is bad, but that's just not true, unless you're diabtetic (or maybe pre-diabetic) – Jay Jun 26 2011 at 13:08

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Its based on glycemic index. Potatoes are 100% glucose, sucrose is half fructose which is low glycemic.

Potatoes/tubers are probably one of the healthiest plant foods imo

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 Don't know about one of the healthiest but def good stuff. They do raise your blood sugar, yes. Any carbohydrate will. This is why our bodies produce insulin. No problems in and of itself at all. – ben61820 Jun 26 2011 at 1:24
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Does any scientific person know how retrograding potato stacrh for mashed potatoes affect blood sugar levels?

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not me. but as a comment i'll chime in with: any processed consumable, to the extent that it is processed, will probably raise BS more so than otherwise. So, I would think that mashed potato would probably raise one's BS more so than, say, a baked potato. Not that I think that rise in BS is an issue that a healthy person needs to concern themselves with. – ben61820 Jun 26 2011 at 13:10
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What happened to me was I became diagnosed as a type II (BG 280, Hba1c - 13) diabetic shortly after the greatest potato harvest ever. These are organic potatoes on our farm. We ended up feeding them (cooked) to the chickens (along with our organic himalaya rice) Our chickens had a great winter, mind you.

As my diet totally changed (with exercise) and my glucose returned to manageable areas, (no meds)I remember one night my wife found a couple of those beautiful potatoes around and we agreed to bake them in the oven and eat them with butter and test myself for glucose.

So I ate the potato, and if my memory serves me right after one hour my Bg had shot to 134 or so. After 2 hours back to 116. Not bad, I said to myself.

But here's the thing, ok, maybe I can tolerate carbohydrate and not hit astronomical BG levels, but what for? The taste alone? I didn't like those BG levels although many doctors would say, "Fine, under control at that level".

I'll stick to Paleo. It just feels healthier inside.

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Why aren't potatoes paleo? – mari Jun 26 2011 at 13:48
They are paleo. Potatoes aren't just for taste there for glycogen and needed nutrients. – cliff Jun 26 2011 at 17:46
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 Potato's are poisonous raw (and contain small quanities of antinutrients even when cooked yes?), are nightshades and haven't been eaten for a long history. I don't know where people get off calling them 'paleo'... enjoy your beans and grains too... jeez – PaleoMouth Jun 26 2011 at 22:46
Raw potatoes are not poisonous. – Matt Jun 27 2011 at 9:10
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 You probably eat tons of neolithic foods. Potatoes are a tuber, tubers are paleo. By this reasoning we better all stop eating food that doesn't grow in africa or where ever you think humans evolved. That means no beef, almonds, strawberries etc. etc. – cliff Jun 27 2011 at 10:41
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I don't know where all y'all are coming from because the "Paleo path" I took in getting into this lifestyle has potatoes ranked as the WORST offender of all. I guess ultimately it depends on what it does to each individual... I haven't experimented yet, as I'm still on my indoctrination phase (started late Feb. 2011).

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 Its ranked worse based on someones opinion. Not science, experience or history. – cliff Jun 26 2011 at 12:35
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 @smart, what is that paleo path? simply look at the nutrient composition of a potato. then compare it to the vaunted sweet potato, not that im demonizing either - i love them both. no big difference. White potatoes are fine. Good source of dense starch that is the ultimate fuel for glycolytic activities, makes one feel good after eating it, easy to digest, tasty, cheap, etc. Whats not to love? – ben61820 Jun 26 2011 at 13:12
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I get asthma-type symptoms from white potatoes. It's really bad - I wake up in the morning and have junk in my lungs like I've got bronchitis or something; by the end of the day though, it's mostly resolved. Potatoes are definitely not worth it, inho. I eat sweet potatoes several times a week now and never have after-effects with them.

I'm not sure if it's because white potatoes are a nightshade or what, I react to all grains too, so my body is pretty screwed up compared to most. I miss my homemade mashed potatoes though.

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