Although few foods contain large amounts of iron, potatoes are a very good source. And, whereas not all the iron content in all foods is available for body use, the iron in potatoes is highly usable by the body. There's a lot more to potatoes, of course, but the carbohydrates in potatoes are the most common form of complex carbohydrates and as such are important to a good diet. Carbohydrates are the body's primary source of fuel for energy. Experts say at least 50 percent of our daily body fuel should come from carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates are of several types.
Sugars are the most basic carbohydrates, the building blocks of complex carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates are longer chains of sugars, such as starches and fiber. Contrary to popular belief, gram for gram, carbohydrates have no more calories than protein and less than half that of fat. In fact, potatoes are virtually fat-free. All too often the potato is guilty by allusion and association.