u/FruitSaladWithTulip

CONFUSED AND FRUSTRATED BODY TEXT EXPLAINING LAST TIME OP GOT CONTRIBUTION REMOVED

Ran into the noob problem of not having enough karma to post anything firstly. Whatever, I eventually get enough karma to try explore a little

Then I run into the problem of those massive subreddits that "won’t let anyone post anything" due to their strict guidelines or power trip

So I take the advice of exploring further into smaller communities, and still get hit with the same problem. Moderation being arbitrary yet exaggerated. Some haven’t even shot me a message about why or how my contribution was removed

I won’t list every single instance straight away if no one cares for this post, but I’m happy yo share what I’ve been told for shits and giggles.

No. Not starting witch-huntings or bigradings.
Just paraphrasing mod-messages I’ve received. Point blank.

I’ve genuinely only found 2 subreddits I wanted to and can engage in

Potatoes should start being counted as a part of our daily vegetable intake, towards your average "5-a-day" goal

Because of its starch contents, potatoes has been culinarily an culturally classified as a complex carbohydrate, alongside grains and other starchy foods like rice and wheat (bread and pasta) on our dinner plates

But the reason we have thumb rules and medical recommendations for vegetable and fruit intake is to consume adequate micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals, fiber, and have biodiversity in our guts

Potatoes are that. Aswell as starch contents (Which you can soak away FYI.), your average potatoes will have a decent vitamin and mineral content, aswell as an okay fiber content. That varies even more between potato species. With some being incredibly high in vitamins and minerals, others being amazing antioxidants, and others being fibrous asf. 💯

I mean, iceberg lettuce and cucumbers are arguably less nutrient dense and lack fiber. Often being presented as "refreshing and hydrating options for vegetables with traces of micronutrients still". Really? Just drink a glass of water… They’re tasty, but hydration is a trivial quality you scout for in a vegetable. Still, the NHS counts those as valid towards your 5 a day, despite aforementioned. But not potatoes.

Biologically speaking, there’s no biology to speak of. There’s a biological definition for fruits, berries are based on the definition of a fruit, and vegetables don’t have a biological definition. The concept of a vegetable is cultural and culinary. It’s just defined as any part of a plant that’s edible to us. Meaning we found and agreed on what plants to plant, harvest, and serve as a vegetable. That’s why avocados and tomatoes are socially accepted as vegetables ‘cause it usually pairs best with other vegetables, despite biology saying otherwise and even some other cultures too.

My Vietnamese mom taught me to eat it as a healthy dessert with milk and sweetener, as for us it culturally and culinary resembled fruit in desserts more than a vegetable on toast. Avocado smoothies was the default for us, and avocado toast was the afterthought. While I’m sure for many of you avocado toast is a default way to consume avocados, and sweet avocado milkshakes is an afterthought. Anyways.

So there’s no scientific rhyme or biological reason for most health institutions to advertise/inform the general public to consider all potatoes to resemble rice more than your peas and carrots on your plate. MIND YOU- Peas in itself are a whole other ball game similar to potatoes. It also has odd definitions that depends on if we look at it from a botanical, cultural/culinary, or nutritional standpoint. Still peas got the pass to be your 5-a-day, while potatoes don’t, despite how both can be classified as a nutritionally dense starchy vegetable.

Obviously most of the blame is to be applied to how we’ve decided to cook and serve potatoes as a collective, the way potatoes are being unfairly treated in the culinary world and culturally. Completely understandable as a health professional to rule out potatoes being apart of someone’s 5-a-day, when you you know youd have some flippant schmuck who would use that to sabotage their well-being by overconsuming highly salty and deepfried foods.

But as aforementioned, culture and culinary varies. Think potato curry stew. A completely acceptable and balanced meal where the potato isn’t the main starch or carbohydrate. Again, my mother eats a specific yam/potato(?) as a snack/treat sometimes. A western example are baked potatoes, you dont need to necessarily bake it in any grease or oil. Just oven-bake it and add adequate toppings. Get creative people, get exploratory.

If we started unanimously agreeing deepfried, oversalted carrot chips was the shit, would carrots desserve the same treatment? Heck no. ***Akshually*** *pickles are considered valid towards your 5-a-day, despite its sugar and salt contents.* **So** that’s somehow a vegetable that’s advised as smart to consume in moderation to be mindful towards its downsides otherwise. ***HAVE WE LOST THE PLOT?!***

One last thing though as I’m unsure where I can put this. Yes I know sweet potatoes are considered valid for your 5-a-day for its amazing nutritional content. But that’s just the potato version of kale vs iceberg lettuce. They both get to co-exist, why can’t regular potatoes and sweet potatoes too?

I’m about to finish my second Round Lab Dokdo cleanser, and looking to try a new cleanser.

I’m currently between :

- Anua 8 Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Gentle Gel Cleanser

Or

- HaruHaru Wonder Black Rice Moisture 5.5 Soft Cleansing Gel

I’ve already tried and loved the HaruHaru Wonder cleanser, so I might return to that. Or I try the Anua cleanser, as its ingredients are very attractive to a dehydrated dry-leaning combination skin like mine. (I also have a weak skin barrier)

Any and all advice, reviews, and personal experiences are welcome to help me pick! Please!