America’s potato problem

Of all the ways you can describe the U.S., here’s one that might not immediately spring to mind: potato nation.

The average U.S. citizen consumes about 140 pounds of potatoes per year.

Come on. That’s a LOT of potatoes.

That’s about 2.5 pounds of potatoes every week. I enjoy potatoes now and then, but I’m certain I don’t eat a couple of pounds a month, much less every week. So someone out there is taking up the slack for me big time.

And what’s wrong with stuffing yourself with potatoes?

HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., explains: “The baked potato is as close to a pure, refined starch as you can get without actually refining it.

“As soon as a starch hits enzymes in your mouth, the starches begin the digestion process, and breaks down to (you guessed it) sugar. As soon as the starch breaks down to sugar, you’re back to a refined simple carb.”

And it’s those refined simple carbs that promote weight gain, increase abdominal fat, and set the stage for type 2 diabetes.

And that’s not even taking into account what happens when you drown those refined simple carbs in boiling oil. I’m guessing a lot of those 2.5 pounds of potatoes per week are of the French variety.

To Your Good Health,

Jenny Thompson