Do you consider yourself a food expert? If so, you should know the difference between a potato and sweet potatoes. There are several similarities and nutritional differences that you might not be aware of, but we’ll be taking a closer look at both types of potatoes in this guide.
Potatoes and sweet potatoes are nutritious in several different ways, although sweet potatoes are usually considered to be a little bit more healthy. Both of these popular potatoes offer nutritional value in the form of vitamins and minerals. They are also very rich in fiber content.
Some of the vitamins that are included in these types of potatoes include Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, and Vitamin A. They both offer a reasonable amount of potassium as well, although traditional potatoes usually have more than sweet potatoes.
In the next few sections of this guide, we will directly compare potatoes and sweet potatoes across a collection of different categories. We will use this opportunity to uncover the true similarities and differences regarding each type of potato.
Health Comparison
Potatoes and sweet potatoes can complement your diet and have positive or negative impacts on your health. In this section, we’ll take a look at some of the nutritional facts that relate to sweet potatoes and traditional white potatoes.
Calories
It might not be too surprising that the number of calories in traditional potatoes and sweet potatoes are almost identical. Sweet potatoes have slightly fewer calories while traditional potatoes have slightly more. One potato is estimated to have around 130 calories, while a single sweet potato is only estimated to have around 100.
Protein
Sweet potatoes have quite a bit less protein than a traditional white potato. It is estimated that a normal potato has around 2 grams of protein while a sweet potato has around 1.25 grams of protein. If you are interested in integrating more protein into your diet, you should probably consider traditional potatoes instead of sweet potatoes.
Vitamins / Minerals
It is now time to take a look at the vitamins and minerals that can be found in potatoes and sweet potatoes. Both types of potatoes have several nutritious vitamins and minerals that contribute to a healthy diet.
Both types of potatoes offer Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, and Vitamin A. They also have reasonable amounts of potassium.
Vitamins and minerals can be important to any healthy diet and it’s imperative to consider this as a factor as you plan out your diet. If you’re looking for a well-rounded collection of vitamin and mineral sources, then either type of potato could be an ideal selection.
It never hurts to compare nutritional facts between two similar foods, especially if you have an opportunity to integrate something into your diet that could benefit your health. Every diet has different rules and uses different methods.
Comparison Chart | Potatoes vs Sweet Potatoes
Here’s an in-depth comparison chart of some of the differences between potatoes and sweet potatoes. It’s important to understand these differences and similarities since there are benefits for both of these types of potatoes.
| Potatoes | Sweet Potatoes |
| Potatoes offer slightly more calories than sweet potatoes, although the difference is minor and both types of potatoes have a similar calorie content when you evaluate them from a general perspective. | Sweet potatoes offer slightly fewer calories than a traditional white potato, although the difference is minor and both types of potatoes have a similar calorie content. |
| A traditional white potato has approximately 2 grams of protein. This is much higher than the protein content in a sweet potato. | A sweet potato has approximately 1.25 grams of protein. This is much lower than the protein content in a traditional white potato. |
| Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, and Vitamin A are several of the vitamins and minerals found in a white potato. Both types of potatoes also have potassium. Source. | Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, and Vitamin A are also included in a sweet potato, as well as potassium, and fiber. Source. |
| In terms of overall health benefits, potatoes are an excellent source of protein and can contribute to a healthy diet. | While sweet potatoes don’t have as much protein, they also have fewer calories, potentially making them a better choice for a healthy diet. |
This comparison chart helps evaluate several of the similarities and differences between potatoes and sweet potatoes. By understanding these, you should be able to make a well-informed decision when trying to integrate these two types of potatoes into your regular diet.
Is Sweet Potato or Potato Better For Weight Loss?
Most people consider sweet potatoes to be healthier than traditional potatoes. Sweet potatoes have fewer calories, making it better for a diet that is going for fewer calories. For diets that are going for more protein, the traditional potato may be the answer. Because there are so many different types of diets, you will have to “weigh” your options.
I personally love to eat a whole mess of sweet potato fries, cooked in my air fryer, while keeping to my particular diet. They are a great low-calorie way to make sure you get full on your diet, while still being a healthy choice.
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Conclusion
There’s a pretty good chance that you might think a little bit longer about your meal, especially if you are trying to decide between a traditional white potato or sweet potato. As mentioned above, both are nutritious choices for your diet.
Depending on what you’re looking for, either type of potato may be a better selection for your specific diet. In the sections above, you can summarize the calorie content, protein content, and several of the vitamins and minerals that are included in both types of potatoes.
By understanding these nutritional facts, you’ll be able to make the best choice when trying to determine which potato is best for your diet. One final thing, both types of potatoes are especially delicious and that’s probably the best fact out of everything that we’ve learned in this entire guide about potatoes vs sweet potatoes.
