potato- fast or slow digesting

[danny987]

is a potato a fast or slow digesting carb

[RaferAlston26]

white potatoes = very fast (on the GI and II scale it's incredibly high)
sweet potatoes = slow

[InclineVet]

is a potato a fast or slow digesting carb

It is a quick digesting carb. On it's own it will spike your insulin. If you don't want that have it with a protein or fat source which slows down the digestion process of the potato while also lowering the overall GI of the meal.

[danny987]

so would they be good right before a workout for energy?

[Rodzilla]

not really, sweet potato would be better

[InclineVet]

so would they be good right before a workout for energy?

Not really.

Slow digesting is much better because it will provide you will slow sustained release of carbs over several hours. Where as the potatoes high GI will have you PUMPED for 10 minutes and leave you pretty drained once it has digested.

[Rodzilla]

if you were going to takea high gi carb pre training, i would do dextrose or malto or waxy maize right before with essential amino acids.

this may be a good idea for you since i think you are trying to put on weight.

check out www.bulkingforectomorphs.com

[iAMthebomb]

what does an insulin spike do to your body?

[Rodzilla]

what does an insulin spike do to your body?

a lot of things, they can be beneficial at times by pushing amino acids in to the blood stream much faster, restoring muscle gylogen

but they can also push excess sugars and fat in to fat stores.