Carrot Vs. Potato: Check Nutritional Benefits & Find Which One Is Healthier?

Carrot and potato both are root vegetables. They both are considered superfoods and have high nutritional value. Root vegetables generally have a long post-harvest life. In this article, we will be comparing the two most popular root vegetables, carrot, and potato.

Carrot

Carrot (Daucus carota) is a type of root vegetable. Carrots are typically orange, however, they also have different colored cultivars such as yellow, black, purple, white, and red.

Nutritional Benefits Of Carrot

Promotes Eye Health

Carrots are excellent vegetables for promoting eye health. They have Vitamin A in them and the deficiency of Vitamin A can lead to night blindness. 

Cancer Prevention

Accumulation of free radicals in the body leads to oxidative stress and damage and can ultimately cause cancer. Carrots are rich in antioxidants such as zeaxanthin and lutein. These antioxidants reduce the risk of oxidative damage and reduce the risk of developing cancer.

Digestive Health

Carrots have a good amount of dietary fibers in them. A medium-sized carrot is consists of 1.7 grams of fiber. It is beneficial for maintaining the overall health of the digestive system.

Other Benefits

Carrots are also good for the heart as they have a good amount of potassium. Potassium relaxes the blood vessels and reduces the risk of developing other cardiovascular conditions. Carrots are also an ideal choice for dieting as they have a good amount of fiber in them. They also have a low glycemic index.

Potato

The potato is also a root vegetable and is a vegetable native to America. It is a starchy tuber of the plant Solanum tuberosum. The potato belongs to the Solanaceae family.

Nutritional Benefits of Potato

High Nutrient Content

Potatoes are loaded with nutrients. They are an excellent source of various minerals and vitamins. One medium baked potato leaves you with Vitamin C and B6, 4.3 grams of protein, and numerous minerals such as Magnesium, Phosphorous, and Potassium.

Rich In Antioxidants

Potatoes are rich in chemical substances such as phenolic acid, carotenoids, and flavonoids. These substances act like antioxidants and neutralize the effect of free radicals in the body.

Digestive Health

Potatoes are consist of resistant starch, which is a type of starch. Resistant starch does get broken down and absorbed completely by the body. Instead, it makes its way to the large intestine and provides it with nutrients to the good bacteria in the gut.

Other Benefits

Potatoes are a good source of fiber. They are also gluten-free. Although many people do not experience any effects of gluten, however, some people with conditions like celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity can cause severe distress when consuming gluten-containing foods.

Which One Is Better?

Although they both are nutritionally dense foods but carrots outshine potatoes in terms of health benefits. Carrots provide you with lots of nutrients and are very low in calories. They have way more nutrients and health than potatoes.