Do you have questions about nutrition? Send them to us at comer@lavanguardia.es, our nutritionist Aitor Sánchez will solve all your doubts.
Do boiled potatoes contain a lot of calories? I know it depends on the size, but I wanted to know if eating a lot makes you fat. I usually make them boiled for dinner with pepper and turmeric. It's something bad? I usually take less than half a kilo of potatoes, of course. (Anonymous)
The truth is that these doubts about the potato are very frequent and very necessary to clarify, we go with a special potato in the office.
Potatoes are not very caloric products, but their preparation and nutritional contribution can change drastically depending on their preparation method.
A fried potato can be a superfluous snack that provides a large amount of energy without us noticing it, while a boiled or baked potato can be an excellent garnish for our dishes.
In fact, the boiled potato is one of the most satiating foods that exists. Surely everyone has experienced it when they have had a boiled vegetable with potatoes. On the contrary, bag chips are not very satiating because they have less water and are fried in oil.
The example of dinner that you give us, potatoes cooked with spices, is a good base, but it lacks the protein portion and the contribution of vegetables. There is no problem if we feel like eating cooked potato for dinner just as you prepare it, but it is not a complete dinner and it usually does not have those other necessary nutrients. Try adding protein and some fresh vegetables to accompany it.
If we talk about the amount of potato, we have to take into account what physical activity we are carrying out. Five hundred grams of potato is a considerable amount and to be able to take it on a recurring basis it would be recommendable that we do a lot of physical activity.
Can you tell me how long I can take probiotics or if there is a break before taking them again? (Maribel Pueyo, reader).
The prescription of probiotics depends a lot on each person and there is no general guideline. There are those who need to extend the treatment because perhaps they are taking medication or are in a pathological condition for which they need this nutritional tool. In other cases, you may only need to provide probiotics for a shorter period, such as temporary diarrhea.
Although the world of the microbiota is on the rise and is gaining more and more importance in nutrition studies, we must warn that there are also plans that are sold as miraculous and especially many supplements that claim to do much more than what they really provide.
Beyond looking for a person who is an expert in the microbiota, which is usually a very fanciful claim, I recommend that you go to a digestive specialist so that they can first assess your case and then consult with nutritionists about the feasibility and convenience of using probiotics.
In the eastern area, I would recommend the work of professionals such as the Aleris Nutrition Center.
