The Ultimate Orthodox Fasting Carbohydrate Tier List · Orthodox Health · Radar

Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes7:06 – 16:37

Michael ChristianHost

7:06

So we're going to start with something I think is probably one of the most underappreciated foods in the modern diet, especially when we're talking about orthodox fasting.

Michael ChristianHost

7:13

Unless you're Irish or Russian, then we're talking about the humble potato.

Michael ChristianHost

7:17

And specifically, We're starting with your ordinary white version, whether that be the Russets, Yukon Golds, the Red Potatoes, whichever variety you prefer.

JohnHost

7:26

I can get behind this right away.

JohnHost

7:28

Potatoes are pretty hard to argue with.

JohnHost

7:30

Although, given what happened to peanut butter last time, I am a bit nervous.

JohnHost

7:35

Well, you shouldn't be, because I'm going to put potatoes straight into the S

Michael ChristianHost

7:39

tier.

Michael ChristianHost

7:39

That's fantastic.

Michael ChristianHost

7:40

Right out of the gate? That's right.

Michael ChristianHost

7:42

And here's why.

Michael ChristianHost

7:43

Because when we're talking about carbohydrate sources, one of the first things I want to consider is how effectively that food can provide energy, how well we digest it, and what other nutrients come along for the ride.

Michael ChristianHost

7:53

But also how practical it is to eat that food consistently during a fast.

Michael ChristianHost

7:57

And potatoes check an awful lot of those boxes.

Michael ChristianHost

8:00

For starters, potatoes are an excellent source of potassium, and that is one of those nutrients that I think that we chronically underestimate, particularly when we're looking at people who are physically active, sweating regularly, dealing with stress, or just simply not eating enough whole foods.

Michael ChristianHost

8:14

And they're also a respectable source of vitamin C, vitamin B6, and depending on the variety and preparation, several other micronutrients.

Michael ChristianHost

8:22

And contrary to what decades of low-carb rhetoric would have you believe, there's nothing inherently unhealthy

JohnHost

8:26

about eating a potato.

JohnHost

8:28

Well, that's good news.

JohnHost

8:29

I mean, next time we talk to Nick Hillman, we have to get some advice from him on how I can grow a nice, hefty harvest of potatoes.

JohnHost

8:37

But what if we cook them as French

Michael ChristianHost

8:41

fries? Well, even there, we need to distinguish between the potato itself and what we've done to the potato.

Michael ChristianHost

8:48

If you cut a potato at home, cooking it in a fat that's appropriate to the day, so whether that's coconut oil during the fast or tallow and lard outside of it, and then season it with some salt, We're having a very different nutritional conversation than if you're eating potatoes that have been sitting in an industrial fryer full of repeatedly heated vegetable oils.

Michael ChristianHost

9:05

Same vegetable, but

JohnHost

9:07

a very different food.

Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes7:06 – 16:37

Michael ChristianHost

7:06

So we're going to start with something I think is probably one of the most underappreciated foods in the modern diet, especially when we're talking about orthodox fasting.

Michael ChristianHost

7:13

Unless you're Irish or Russian, then we're talking about the humble potato.

Michael ChristianHost

7:17

And specifically, We're starting with your ordinary white version, whether that be the Russets, Yukon Golds, the Red Potatoes, whichever variety you prefer.

JohnHost

7:26

I can get behind this right away.

JohnHost

7:28

Potatoes are pretty hard to argue with.

JohnHost

7:30

Although, given what happened to peanut butter last time, I am a bit nervous.

JohnHost

7:35

Well, you shouldn't be, because I'm going to put potatoes straight into the S

Michael ChristianHost

7:39

tier.

Michael ChristianHost

7:39

That's fantastic.

Michael ChristianHost

7:40

Right out of the gate? That's right.

Michael ChristianHost

7:42

And here's why.

Michael ChristianHost

7:43

Because when we're talking about carbohydrate sources, one of the first things I want to consider is how effectively that food can provide energy, how well we digest it, and what other nutrients come along for the ride.

Michael ChristianHost

7:53

But also how practical it is to eat that food consistently during a fast.

Michael ChristianHost

7:57

And potatoes check an awful lot of those boxes.

Michael ChristianHost

8:00

For starters, potatoes are an excellent source of potassium, and that is one of those nutrients that I think that we chronically underestimate, particularly when we're looking at people who are physically active, sweating regularly, dealing with stress, or just simply not eating enough whole foods.

Michael ChristianHost

8:14

And they're also a respectable source of vitamin C, vitamin B6, and depending on the variety and preparation, several other micronutrients.

Michael ChristianHost

8:22

And contrary to what decades of low-carb rhetoric would have you believe, there's nothing inherently unhealthy

JohnHost

8:26

about eating a potato.

JohnHost

8:28

Well, that's good news.

JohnHost

8:29

I mean, next time we talk to Nick Hillman, we have to get some advice from him on how I can grow a nice, hefty harvest of potatoes.

JohnHost

8:37

But what if we cook them as French

Michael ChristianHost

8:41

fries? Well, even there, we need to distinguish between the potato itself and what we've done to the potato.

Michael ChristianHost

8:48

If you cut a potato at home, cooking it in a fat that's appropriate to the day, so whether that's coconut oil during the fast or tallow and lard outside of it, and then season it with some salt, We're having a very different nutritional conversation than if you're eating potatoes that have been sitting in an industrial fryer full of repeatedly heated vegetable oils.

Michael ChristianHost

9:05

Same vegetable, but

JohnHost

9:07

a very different food.