POTATOES CAN KILL YOU, TRUE OR FALSE?

Potatoes are a beloved commodity. Chances are, you find it hard to imagine a steak without baked potato or fries, a hearty stew with no spuds, a picnic where you look around in vain for the potato salad. 

   Surely potatoes are safe to eat.

   Of course that is generally true. But deaths do occur. My research says very rarely, usually resulting from solanine poisoning.

   One strange instance was not a result of eating. According to the Daily Mail, in 2013 the Chelysheva family suffered loss of father, mother, brother and grandmother, killed one by one after entering a cellar where they stored potatoes for the winter. 

   What happened? 

   

   Toxic fumes had accumulated due to the rotting potatoes, according to local Russian investigators. A very rare circumstance, still, seems wise to be cautious with storage.

                      Death By Green Potato

   Solanine poisoning is the source of the common “green potatoes can kill you” stories, and there is indeed a documented history of serious medical problems.

   For example, from the 1970s there is a report of more than 75 students becoming seriously ill from solanine poisoning, which results from eating potatoes with the green tint. Symptoms include spasms and hallucinations plus those similar to flu.

   Even though some alleged authorities say it is okay, I would say it is kind of crazy to eat around the green. I mean, the green is just chlorophyll, an indicator of the presence of high levels of solanine.

   So be wise and avoid potatoes with the green layer, thereby avoiding consequences such as at the least headache, nausea, fatigue and intestinal uproar.

                      Studies Show Dire Possibilities

   Certainly the most common potato scare stories are in regard to health, based on studies predicting the dire results of certain dietary practices. (Would you like gravy with those fries?)

   Because they are a popular food, there have been lots of studies done on potatoes.    Typical is one published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition recently concluding that people eating fried potatoes twice a week or more had more than twice the chance of dying prematurely.

   The National Potato Council took exception, citing what it called major flaws in the study, according to report in The Washington Post.

   Another example: According to the New York Times, a major US study found that eating potatoes more than four times a week can increase your risk of high blood pressure. 

   Eating a lot of potatoes has also been linked to greater risk of diabetes.

   Do these studies prove potatoes are the culprit, or does eating a lot of potatoes (particular fried I would say) simply indicate a hazardous lifestyle? I mean, if you live on French fries you are probably not jogging around the block every morning.

   So I conclude that the likelihood is, those who eat lots of fried potatoes may not have the healthiest of lifestyles overall, thus being at risk.

                      Some Good Potato News

   Hey, let’s have some good potato news. According to the WiseBread web site, potatoes are the leading crop grown in the U.S. They are grown in 30 U.S. states, with Idaho and Washington leading the pack, and Wisconsin a distant third.

   They are a major export. Japan, China and Mexico are main buyers of stateside spuds. As I read the data it looks as though the popular sort of export is frozen French fries.

   Potatoes are good for you, generally speaking. According to the Organic Facts web site, certain potatoes –-particularly red and russet varieties –- contain antioxidants and vitamins. The Agricultural Research Service says potatoes also contain quercetin, which has anti-cancer and anti-tumor qualities.

   With skin left on they are a great source of fiber.

                      And In Conclusion

   Still, problems continue to occur. McCain Foods USA recently had to recall its hash brown potatoes because the product may have included golf ball parts. Sounds crazy but as it happened, the harvested fields were located near a driving range.

   Let’s close on a high note. You might do yourself some good living on nothing but potatoes for a while. Consider this: Chris Voigt executive director of the Washington State Potato Commission, ate 20 potatoes a day for two months, plain, no toppings or other additions (so he said, but later reports indicate he used some Taco Bell sauces and balsamic vinegar to add variety). 

   The results were remarkable — Voigt lowered his cholesterol, blood pressure, and lost 21 pounds. 

   One medical site, while not recommending the all potato diet, said Voigt achieved results superior to those if he had used drugs and intensive lifestyle changes.

   And after all this talk, it’s only fair to offer a big batch of potato recipes for your dining pleasure, check these out.