Is Potato Bread Healthy? [Carbs Vs White Bread]

Potato bread has been around for centuries since a French pharmacist and agriculturist came up with the first recipe in the 18th century.

Since then, it has gained popularity in recent years, touted as a healthier alternative to wheat flour.

Potato bread is made with white flour, eggs, butter or shortening, salt, and a leavening agent like baking powder or soda.

The ratio of potato to wheat flour differs significantly depending on recipes; some recipes have more of one or the other.

Some recipes call for potato flakes, and others use mashed potatoes.

Potato bread is commercially available in many countries, differing only by the types of ingredients used and cooking methods.

You can also make homemade potato bread at home with a bread machine or mixer.

The dough is sweeter and softer than regular bread dough and should be made drier and stiffer to avoid sinking too much.

Moist, easily sliced with a spongy texture, potato bread has about twice the amount of protein and fiber than wheat bread with a similar calorie count.

This could help weight management as both fiber and protein work together to make you feel fuller for longer.

A slice of potato bread has 4g of protein and 2g of fiber, while wheat bread has 3g of protein and 1g of fiber.

A slice of potato bread will provide about 17% of your daily requirement for phosphorus, while a slice of wheat bread provides approximately 6% of your daily need.

Phosphorus benefits both bone and tooth health and also works with the B-complex vitamins.

You’ll be able to get about 15 grams of total carbohydrates from one slice of potato bread, as well as 4% – 6% of your daily value of calcium, iron, and vitamin B6.

In addition, potato bread has 230 mg per slice of potassium, three times as much as whole-wheat bread and a surprising seven times more than white bread.

Potassium offsets the impact of too much sodium by lowering blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart disease and hypertension.

Does Potato Bread Have Health Benefits?

In addition, a slice of potato bread provides 11% of your recommended daily intake for folate, a B vitamin that helps prevent congenital disabilities in unborn infants.

In contrast, a slice of wheat bread contains about 7%.

Potato bread is high in phosphorus; a slice gives you 17% of the recommended daily intake, while a slice of wheat bread gives you about 6%.

Phosphorus benefits bones and teeth, working with B vitamins to help the body metabolize food.

In addition, potato bread is richer in calcium and potassium, strengthening bones and maintaining healthy blood pressure by balancing out the adverse effects of sodium.

Potato bread has been credited with the following health benefits:

1. Contains vitamin E

One slice of Potato bread provides 0.15 milligrams of Vitamin E, more than what’s found in a slice of white bread. Vitamin E helps reduce the impact & harm from free radicals by providing antioxidant support to your body.

Research has shown that free radicals are responsible for cell damage, leading to chronic health problems such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant agent that assists a healthy immune system and cognitive abilities over time.

2. Excellent source of folate

Potatoes are healthy, nutrient-rich food and a good source of folate.

When compared to white bread, which has none at all, a slice of potato bread contains 48 micrograms of folate.

Folic acid is an essential form of folate, especially in pregnant women.

It ensures the proper development of the fetus and reduces the risk of congenital disabilities.

In whole-wheat bread, folic acid is lost in the baking heat.

While both folic acid and folate work similarly, folate is the naturally occurring form, while folic acid is the synthetic form commonly found in fortified cereals, grains, and supplements.

3. Contains more fiber than white bread

Potato bread has double the amount of fiber found in wheat bread.

The amount of fiber present depends on the flour used to bake the bread.

Whole-wheat flour contains up to three times more fiber than all-purpose white flour, so think about replacing white flour with whole-wheat to make potato bread.

Dietary fiber is necessary for proper bowel movements and function, giving the stool bulk and promoting optimal gut health.

The average American eats about 15 grams of fiber a day, about half the recommended daily intake of 25 to 30 grams.

Lack of fiber can lead to a host of health problems, including constipation, poor immune responses, and inadequate gut health.

In addition, wheat bread has lower sugar levels than potato bread.

A slice of wheat bread contains 1.75 grams of sugar compared to the 4 grams in potato bread.

However, potato bread is much lower in sodium content; a sandwich made with wheat bread contains 300 grams of sodium while potato bread contains a mere 24 grams.

While potato bread might not suit someone on a sugar-free or low GI diet, it makes an excellent choice for other individuals wanting a substitute for regular white bread.

Potatoes are an excellent source of antioxidants, vitamin A, C, potassium, and magnesium.

The dense texture of the bread makes it perfect for sandwiches that won’t fall apart.

Potato bread is often seen as healthy because they are high in complex carbohydrates.

They are also a good source of potassium, folic acid, and vitamin C.

Potato bread is made merely by substituting some portion of wheat flour with a mashed or flaked potato.

Potato bread has 4 grams of sugar compared to the 1.75 grams present in wheat bread.

However, potato bread has about double the amount of fiber as wheat bread.

In addition, it has higher levels of essential minerals like potassium, folate, calcium, and magnesium.

The higher fiber levels might well be worth the slightly more calories in potato bread.

Fiber takes time for the body to process, leaving you feeling fuller for longer.

High-fiber foods are known to be an essential part of all weight management programs.

Alternative low-GI fillers for bread can involve flax seeds or coconut flour.

Carbohydrates are a group of three organic compounds found in foods; fibers, sugars, and starches.

They contain two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen in the same ratio as water.

Carbohydrates break down to release energy into the body, fueling cells with energy.

Carbs make the body release insulin into the bloodstream, which in turn transports glucose to the cells for use as energy.

Broadly speaking, the lack of insulin causes out-of-control blood sugar levels, resulting in blurred vision, headaches, and fatigue.

Carbohydrates are the body’s primary energy source. If not present, the body will start to burn muscle and fat.

Replacing your intake of carbohydrates with that of fat and protein could increase saturated fat and cholesterol levels, which increases the risk of heart disease.

When you are low on glucose, the body will break down fat storage to convert it to energy.

While carbohydrates, fat, and protein all combine to provide you with the energy you need to function, the muscles rely on carbohydrates as their primary source of fuel.

The carbohydrate storage compounds, called glycogen, have to be topped up regularly for us to function.

A diet low in carbohydrates can lead to a lack of energy, feelings of fatigue, and delayed recovery.

Wheat is one of the most demonized foods when it comes to weight management.

It is found in bread, pasta, pizza, and other snack foods.

Instead of refined, processed carbohydrates like that of those found in white bread, opt for whole grains instead.

Wholemeal and brown grain gives us energy and usually contain B vitamins, vitamin E, fiber, and many other nutritional minerals.