Boise, ID – This week researchers at the American Dietetic Association’s Food and Nutrition Conference in San Diego showed that potatoes could be a cheap source of a nutrient most American diets are lacking. As Emily Schwing reports, this comes at a time when the potato has drawn some bad press.
A team of researchers at the University of Washington combined data from two USDA databases to show that Idaho’s famous tuber may be one of the least expensive natural sources of potassium.
A medium sized russett has just under eight-and-a half grams of potassium, compared with the average banana which has only four grams.
From a cost perspective, the two average about the same. Although a pound of bananas is roughly 30 cents cheaper than a pound of russet potatoes these days, the cost per gram of potassium per pound of each, comes out the same -about three-and-a-half cents.
Just last year, dietary guidelines identified potassium as one of the nutrients lacking in the average American diet. Dieticians recommend people have almost five grams each day to help lower blood pressure and maintain good nerve and muscle function.
Last year the USDA proposed guidelines that could remove the potato from meals served in US schools. The United States Potato Board, which funded the University of Washington study has been working with the potato industry ever since to save the potato’s reputation.