Low carb potatoes

Jenny_Aster · February 2023

As I'm on the cusp of being tagged as being diabetic so I'm trying to keep carbs low in my diet.

I've just come across a 2016 thread on Diabetes.co.uk about the variety of potato called 'Charisma'. It's said to have about 10g of carbs per 100g, normal white potatoes generally have about 20g. It's an Australian bred potato and at that time wasn't available in the UK. Wondering if anyone has any information about Charisma? (I can put a link to this post but I'm not sure a link to another forum is allowed).

I've just ordered 10 tubers of 'Nicola' to try, this variety is said to be lower on the GI index than mainstream potatoes. https://specialtyproduce.com/produce/Nicola_Potatoes_18440.php. I hope to test my blood sugar reaction at harvest time, so fingers crossed!

Wouldn't it be a wonderful dream if a variety of potato was as 'healthy' as a lettuce

bcpathome · February 2023

I’ve been a type 1 diabetic for 50 years and I am here to tell you that there is no such thing as a low carb potato or a low carb anything . If it’s got too many carbs learn to avoid it . The diabetic sites and magazines must be taken with a large pinch of salt ( also not allowed)) they are there to sell diabetic items although do have some articles worth reading .Don’t treat it like a * bible* .

thevictorian · February 2023

I don't know if it helps or even if they would be suitable but many potato substitutes might work for you. I know that jerusalem artichokes have a different type of sugar that our bodies can't process, so they work out better for us (I dont know the carbohydrate amounts though). I think it's a similar situation with things like oca, mashua and yacon. Maybe some of these might be worth looking into to exand your diet or mix in with the potatoes.

Obelixx · February 2023

Not diabetic but we very rarely eat potatoes at home. We prefer sweet potatoes - more fibre and flavour plus extra minerals and vitamins - but don't have them every week.

Jerusalem artichokes also have more mineral, vitamins and fibre but if you don't already have lots of fibre in your diet they can have an unfortunate effect as you digest them so ease them in slowly.

Try pumpkin instead - low carbs and can be baked, roasted, souped and pureed.

You'd be better off IMHO just upping the veggies and fresh fruit and cutting out potatoes altogether. Think them as an occasional treat rather than a daily requirement and go for baked potatoes with their skins rather than peeled potato anything so you get extra fibre.

Jenny_Aster · February 2023

bcpathome said:

The diabetic sites and magazines must be taken with a large pinch of salt ( also not allowed)) they are there to sell diabetic items although do have some articles worth reading .Don’t treat it like a * bible* .

Quite agree regarding such articles, though I was referring to a forum thread where other diabetics were enquiring. It is shocking though once you start looking into such things and discovering who sponsors who.

Jenny_Aster · February 2023

Thank you for your suggestions @thevictorian and @Obelixx. Don't think I've had a potato since I had a spoonful of mash on Burns Night, before that it was a roastie on Christmas day, so I think I can live without them. But it is nice having new potatoes straight out of the garden including all the good vitamins and minerals they produce. I am lucky though (at the moment) where I can still tolerate most foods.

I was just interested in going down the 'low carb varieties' route. Though surprisingly for some reason, if you cook a potato then chill it like a salad potato, it has less carbs aparently. As Tesco keeps saying.... 'every little (drop in carbs) bit helps'.

philippasmith2 · February 2023

I certainly agree about the Sweet Potatoes tho not so easy if you want to grow your own.
I never peel pots of any sort - just scrub and then steam or bake. Been a few years since I grew the Jerusalem artichokes so I can't really recall the effects @Obelixx describes

bcpathome · February 2023

Just eat the amount you’re allowed and enjoy them asI do .Cold with salad is best for me .The odd roastie is ok just don’t over do it .Nobody with either sort of diabetes need to be a martyr ………just sensible .

thevictorian · February 2023

I was warned when I planted them that "farty"chokes definitely deserve that nickname.

nutcutlet · February 2023

thevictorian said:

I was warned when I planted them that "farty"chokes definitely deserve that nickname.

it's true and they taste like dirt

Obelixx · February 2023

Well cooked they are delicious but it's not just the fartiness you need to worry about. I once fed a JA gratin dauphinois to a group of friends in Belgium and the NZ couple were awake half the night with stomach cramps and gurgles and thought it was food poisoning. They don't affect us as we eat a lot of veg and pulses.

Low carb potatoes

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