the humble potatoe & kumara(sweet potatoe) - Triathlon Week

spacecatz · 02-09-2005, 01:39 PM

So does anyone actually know why the potatoe is so good?

Why is the potatoe listed as a good foodfor endurance athletes, its actually low carb isn't it? How beneficial in nutrition is potatoe to an athlete in a endurance event?

Spike10 · 02-16-2005, 10:36 AM

Spacecatz, I have just talked to my daughter (who as you know if you read my reply to your post in the newcommer section) is a chef/nutritionist, she told me that the humble potato is just a big ball of starch. This big ball of starch is turned into carbs for the bodys blast furnace to give us a boost at the begining of heavy exercise, this blast furnace is fuled by fats either stored or injested prior to racing or what ever the activity might be. For endurance you need to have onboard (body or bike) fat stores that can be burned after you light the fire. You have most likely heard the phrase "Carbo Loading", well thats exactly what the athlete is doing, loading up on the nirto for the furnace.
Also, my daughter says if you want to prepare sweet potatoes fried, you should boil them first since they are so dense or shread them before you put them in the hot oil, then lightly salt them for a sweet/salty treat.
Spike.

spacecatz · 02-17-2005, 01:27 PM

Thanks Spike!!

cool, my partner does 24hr MTB races (crazy bugger) and since I'm responsible for feeding him I am always on the lookout for a variety of food that are suitable for his carbo needs! I found that mashed potatoe & gravy was a really good feed for him during the event, but wasn't sure if it was supplying a good amount of carbs as the carb level on potatoe is only about 17grms per 100g, whereas pasta ranges from 62g per 100g so it was really high but in a 24hr event you really need variety! and honestly, you can't beat the ole potatoe!!

thanks
spacey!

Spike10 · 02-17-2005, 02:52 PM

Hey Spacey, you might want to try a variety of breads with lots of yummy stuff in them, here in the states most kitchens have bread machines (I swear by mine), you can come up with all crazy mixes with nuts, fruits, even meats (my wife made a sour krout and corned beef loaf once), you can make them in small batches for tasting to see if you like them, whatever you come up with all you have to do is cut it up into whatever size is convienient and put them in plastic resealable bags, then your off to the races, let me know what you come up with, it's really quite fun inventing good stuff to eat.
Later.
Spike.