Thursday, November 27, 2008

Max Out Your Mashed Potatoes

(Source: http://www.realage.com/ct/eat-smart/food-and-nutrition/tip/7541)


You can safeguard the nutrients in your mashed potatoes by cooking them a little differently this year.


The trick? Boil them whole. The reason? Cubing your potatoes first will slash their potassium content by as much as 50 percent.


Potassium and More


Okay, boiling them whole does take a bit longer. But the payoff is that you get not only more potassium but more of other important minerals, too: magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, iron, and zinc. (Roasting, baking, or microwaving whole potatoes also preserves more potassium, by the way.) Here are some other cooking tricks that can help you max out your food’s nutrition.


Why You Need It


Potassium helps your body regulate blood pressure and heart rate, as well as nerve and muscle function. And food is your best source. Use this tool to learn how much potassium you need and what other foods you can get it from.

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