Comparing the Nutritional Values of Rice and Potatoes According to Maisie Appleby Updated on November 27 A typical American meal consists of a protein source, a vegetable dish, and a high-carbohydrate side dish, typically rice, potatoes, or pasta. To make this as nutritious as possible, you must consider the variety of nutrients in this dish.
- According to Clemson University, more than 70 percent of the white rice sold in the United States is enriched with additional folic acid, thiamine, niacin, and iron, making it nutrient-dense enough to compete with potatoes in several areas, but potatoes are overall more nutrient-dense than rice.
- If you are trying to lose weight by monitoring your calorie and fat intake, rice or potatoes may be beneficial.
Less than one gram of fat per serving is present in both foods. They have comparable caloric content. Plain white rice has 242 calories per cup, while brown rice has 216. With 230 calories, a medium baked potato falls between them. With 5 grams of protein per cup, rice has slightly more protein than potatoes, which contain 3 grams per cup.
The majority of nutrients are in the potato itself, not the skin, contrary to popular belief; however, the skin helps retain the potato’s nutrients and adds fiber. Brown rice, which is unmilled with the hull removed, is a whole-grain food that contains 4 grams of fiber per cup, whereas white rice contains only 1 gram of fiber per cup.
A medium baked potato provides approximately 3 grams of fiber if the skin is consumed, and 2 grams if it is not. If you are attempting to increase your fiber consumption, baked potatoes and brown rice are superior to mashed potatoes and white rice. A cup of rice contains a third of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin B-6, which aids in the production of red blood cells and amino acids.
- In addition, it provides 10% of the recommended daily allowance of niacin, trace amounts of thiamine and riboflavin, and 180 micrograms of folate.
- A potato contains 50 percent of the daily value for vitamin B-6, 45 percent of the daily value for vitamin C, and trace amounts of thiamine, riboflavin, and folate.
Due to the fact that potatoes are grown underground, they contain a greater quantity of minerals than rice. Although rice contains three times as much iron as a baked potato, a baked potato contains five times as much calcium, twice as much phosphorus, and fourteen times as much potassium, rivaling potassium-rich foods such as bananas, spinach, and broccoli.
Each serving of rice and potatoes contains roughly the same amounts of zinc and magnesium. The glycemic index of a food indicates the likelihood that it will raise blood glucose levels. A food with a lower glycemic index is safer for diabetics. This number varies significantly based on the type of potato or rice consumed.
The glycemic index of a medium-sized white potato is 50, while that of a russet potato is 85, according to the Harvard University Medical Center. White rice and brown rice have glycemic index values of 64 and 55, respectively. Overall, potatoes contain more vitamins and nutrients than rice, but adding toppings such as butter, sour cream, gravy, bacon bits, and salt significantly increases the calories and fat grams in a baked potato.
- Limit these ingredients and opt for healthier, lower-calorie seasonings such as garlic or olive oil.
- Consider retention of nutrients as well.
- Rice has a longer shelf life than potatoes and retains its nutrients for a longer period of time after harvest, so whenever possible, choose freshly harvested potatoes to maximize their nutrient content.
Writer Bio Maia Appleby has more than 15 years of experience in the fitness industry and is a NASM-certified personal trainer. Her articles have appeared in numerous print magazines and online publications, such as the Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health, the New Moon Network, and Bodybuilding.com: Comparing the Nutritional Values of Rice and Potatoes
Rice versus potatoes for weight loss?
Comparing the macronutrient content of potatoes and rice – According to the USDA, a medium baked potato with the skin contains 161 calories, 4.3 grams of protein, 0.2 gram of fat, and 36.6 grams of carbohydrates, including 3.8 grams of fiber. According to the USDA, one cup of cooked white rice contains 205 calories, 4.3 grams of protein, 0.4 gram of fat, 44.5 grams of carbohydrates, and only 0.6 gram of fiber.
Key Takeaways – A new study suggests that including potatoes in a healthy diet is a safe option for diabetics. Adults with type 2 diabetes who consumed a mixed evening meal with skinless potatoes had a lower overnight blood glucose response than those who consumed basmati rice with a low glycemic index.
While the glycemic index can be a useful tool for those attempting to manage their diabetes, it is not a comprehensive guide. According to new research, potatoes can be a healthy part of a diabetic’s diet. The results of a clinical trial funded by the Alliance for Potato Research and Education were published in Clinical Nutrition last month.
Adults with type 2 diabetes who consumed a mixed evening meal with skinless potatoes had a lower blood glucose response overnight compared to those who consumed a meal with low-GI basmati rice. Constance Brown-Riggs, MSEd, RDN, CDCES, CDN, registered dietitian and author of Living Well With Diabetes, tells Verywell that new research suggests potatoes can be a healthy part of the diet for diabetics.
- Brown-Riggs did not participate in the study.
- In particular, these findings contradict observational research or dietary advice that has solely focused on glycemic index (GI), which has led some individuals with type 2 diabetes to believe that potatoes are not an appropriate food choice.
- Everyone can and should enjoy all foods that are part of a healthy diet without regard to the arbitrary GI ranking.” 24 adult males and females with type 2 diabetes completed four experimental trials after consuming standard meals for the study.
In addition to other foods, dinner contained either boiled potato, roasted potato, boiled potato that had been cooled for 24 hours, or basmati rice (a food with a lower glycemic index that served as the control).50% of each meal was carbohydrates, 30% fat, and 20% protein.
- Potatoes were not the only food consumed.
- In contrast to meals containing low glycemic basmati rice, meals containing boiled, roasted, or boiled-then-cooled potatoes were not associated with adverse post-meal glucose responses or nighttime glycemic control.
- Chrissy Carroll, MPH, RD, a dietician blogger for Snacking in Sneakers, tells Verywell that these findings suggest potatoes can be a part of a balanced meal when managing blood glucose.
“Even in the absence of type 2 diabetes, the recommendation to create a balanced plate by combining protein, vegetables, and a moderate portion of a starch has always been a wise strategy,” Carroll says.
Should I avoid rice when attempting weight loss?
In conclusion, white rice appears neither beneficial nor detrimental to weight loss. However, it has been demonstrated more consistently that diets rich in whole grains, such as brown rice, promote weight loss and help maintain a healthy body weight.