Hot, crispy and delicious French fries are irresistible, but there is a question that has been bothering everyone for many years: How to choose when potato fries also appear on the menu? One is the classic salty and addictive regular fries; the other is the sweet potato fries that are slightly sweet and claim to be healthier. Food website Delish asked experts to clarify which one wins from a health perspective?

Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamin A and have a slightly lower glycemic index than potatoes.

Sweet potato fries have a health halo. Jaclyn London, a registered dietitian in New York, said that sweet potatoes are an excellent source of vitamin A and are especially rich in β-carotene. This powerful antioxidant is important for vision, immune function and skin health. A serving of sweet potato fries can meet the body's daily vitamin A needs, which is unmatched by ordinary potatoes.

Sarah, nutritionist and recipe tribe Schlichter said sweet potatoes are also rich in dietary fiber, which can help promote digestion and increase satiety, thereby reducing the intake of French fries. She says sweet potato fries add a pop of color to any dish and are slightly sweeter than regular fries, so they pair well with a variety of savory sauces or main dishes.

In addition to containing a large amount of vitamin A, sweet potatoes also have a slightly lower glycemic index than potatoes. This means sweet potatoes release sugar into the bloodstream more slowly, helping to avoid a sudden energy drop after a meal. Therefore, if you want to nourish your eyes and benefit your skin, sweet potato fries are obviously better.

Potatoes contain more potassium than bananas and are also a good source of vitamin C and B6.

But don’t rush to deny the value of potatoes. They often get an unfair reputation in the carbohydrate controversy, but they actually have many advantages. London pointed out that potatoes are a source of potassium, an electrolyte that is very important for muscle function and blood pressure regulation; in fact, their potassium content is even higher than that of bananas, and they are also a good source of vitamins C and B6.

When choosing French fries, keeping the skin on can bring extra nutritional value. The rind is rich in dietary fiber, which aids digestion and prolongs satiety, and contains antioxidants such as polyphenols, which are beneficial to overall health. Skin-on fries not only taste better, they also retain more nutrients.

Which one is healthier? The key is cooking, frying destroys the nutritional value.

The key to the so-called "healthier" choice lies in the way the fries are cooked. Both sweet potatoes and potatoes are nutritious vegetables, but when they are sliced, put into a pan, and sprinkled with salt, the result is different.

Most restaurant fries, no matter what the ingredients are, are fried, and extra fat and calories come with it. No matter which one you choose, the caloric difference is limited; although sweet potato fries contain more vitamin A, while ordinary fries provide more potassium, these differences become minimal after frying.

London said that no matter what kind of fries, the traditional method of baking or air-frying rather than frying and then sprinkling salt is the best choice.