Why Do Potatoes Have a Higher Glycemic Index Than Sugar?

Not all potatoes have the same GI

Potatoes

Verywell / Alexandra Shytsman

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Did you know that potatoes have a relatively high glycemic index (GI) score? The GI rates how much certain foods raise your blood glucose. Each variety of potato has a different index score, but many of them fall between 80 and 90.

Potatoes are a staple in diets throughout the world because they are an affordable and nutritious vegetable. People who choose to limit high-glucose foods wouldn't obviously avoid potatoes because we often associate high GI foods with those foods that contain sugar.

So how is it that potatoes have a high GI score? It's all about the starch and how it converts to glucose in your body.

The Starch Effect

Too often, glucose is associated with sweetness. Regular white potatoes are not a food that is considered sweet or "sugary." However, potatoes are almost all starch and starch is made up of long strings of glucose.

Since the starch in potatoes is rapidly digested, the glycemic index of potatoes can be almost as high as that of glucose alone. The glycemic index of glucose is 100 points; potatoes are usually listed as being in the high 80s or low 90s.

However, potatoes have a higher GI score than table sugar.

How is that possible? Sucrose (table sugar) has a GI of 59. It is a disaccharide (two sugar) molecule made up of one glucose molecule and one fructose molecule. Fructose is processed differently in your body than glucose, and it doesn't affect your blood sugar as much.

An ounce of carbohydrate from potatoes has twice as much glucose as sugar. When you think of it that way, it's only logical that potatoes would raise blood glucose more significantly than table sugar.

However, not all potatoes are created equal, and there are ways to lower their impact on your blood glucose. You can still enjoy a few potatoes here and there; just keep your servings in check.

The starch in potatoes is converted to sugar in your body. For that reason, potatoes can have a more significant effect on blood glucose than table sugar.

Factors to Consider

Two primary factors that influence the glycemic index of potatoes include the variety and the cooking method.

Variety

There are many varieties of potatoes and it would not be accurate to say that every potato has a glycemic index of 80 or 90. In fact, researchers have found that some varieties of potatoes can be as low as 53 on the glycemic index.

In one study, researchers put seven potato varieties to the test: Russet Burbank, Mayflower, Nicola, Bintje, Carisma, Desiree, and Virginia Rose. Of these, they found that the Carisma potato had a GI of 53, making it the only one of the group to be classified as low-GI.

The Nicola was the next highest at 69 GI, falling into the medium-GI category. Russet Burbank potatoes, which are very popular, ranked the highest at 82 GI. In general, potatoes can range in GI value from 53 to 111, with white potatoes typically showing up lower on the index. Leaving the skin on adds fiber, which can reduce the potato's effect on glucose.

Often, the sweet potato is rated with a GI in the mid-40s.

Cooking Method

The way you prepare your potatoes, including cooking method and added ingredients, can also have an impact on the glycemic impact.

A study published by the Journal of the American Dietetic Association examined how different cooking methods affect the glucose response of potatoes. Researchers found that the way that potatoes are prepared plays a big role.

Researchers advise consumers to precook potatoes and consume them cold or reheated if they want to minimize glycemic impact.

Instant mashed potatoes and boiled red potatoes elicited the highest glycemic response. Roasting potatoes and baking potatoes had a slightly lower glycemic response.

Concerns About GI

There has been concern over the accuracy and the effectiveness of using GI for managing blood sugar. One issue is the accuracy of testing procedures. A problem arises in that the tests for the glycemic index only show an average, while the glycemic index number itself is actually an average of those averages.

In the case of potatoes, the different studies used to compute the index have results ranging from 53 to 111. Each of those studies was run on a number of people and only the average was reported. So, the glycemic index number itself may not be accurate enough to be helpful.

Other researchers have reported that using the glycemic index alone may not provide substantial health benefits. Some studies have shown that the index can be helpful in the management of diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease risk. But beyond glycemic index, someone who has diabetes should consider the intake of protein, fat, fiber, and sugar alcohols, especially surrounding meal time because they can affect blood glucose management. Solely concentrating on glycemic index may not be the best method of evaluating health and blood sugar management.

Should You Limit Potatoes?

There are different factors that you should consider when deciding whether or not to include potatoes in your low GI diet.

Personalized Response

Different people have different glycemic responses to different foods. The most significant factor is how your own body reacts to a potato. You can get this information with a blood glucose meter or a a continuous glucose monitor which is a more accurate tool.

This information is especially important if you have been diagnosed with prediabetes or diabetes. Continuous and long-term high blood sugar levels can take a toll on your body. High sugars can damage all of the organs in your body including the kidneys, eyes, skin, vagina or penis, heart, and more.  

Portion Size

Potatoes have many nutritional benefits. A single serving of potatoes is considered to be 150 grams. The glycemic load (and glycemic response) will depend on how much you eat at one time and what other foods you have with the potatoes.

Most of the time, potatoes are eaten as part of a meal rather than by themselves and that will modify how they affect your blood glucose.

For instance, if you eat low-carb meat with a small potato side and a salad, the meal is balanced. The fiber—if more than 5 grams—can actually reduce the spiking effect the potatoes would have on your glucose.

The same can be said for low glycemic foods like beans and many vegetables. If you cook potatoes in a dish that has plenty of healthy fat, protein, or fiber, the spiking effect of glucose effects will be decreased.

A Word From Verywell

While potatoes can be quite high in glucose, keep in mind the things you can do to reduce it. If you want to eat potatoes, select a lower GI potato variety, enjoy smaller servings, and pair them with foods that counteract the glucose. Most importantly, monitor your blood glucose and see how these changes affect you personally.

For further information regarding how the glycemic index and food affect blood sugars, it is best to speak with a registered dietitian nutritionist. If managing your diabetes is very complicated, then you may need to speak with a certified diabetes care and education specialist. 

5 Sources
Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Additional Reading

By Laura Dolson
Laura Dolson is a health and food writer who develops low-carb and gluten-free recipes for home cooks.