International Potato Day – 30th May

Intro – International Potato Day

Potatoes are incredibly healthful—loaded with all sorts of important vitamins and minerals. They’re also powerfully filling, chockfull of fiber, that super-nutrient that both helps fill you up during a meal and keeps you from feeling hungry long after that meal is over.

Although French fries and potato skins are usually high in fat and calories, the potato has zero fat and cholesterol, and it’s low in sodium. So when you prepare them right, potatoes can make delicious, satisfying, and healthy dishes.

Americans eat more potatoes than any other vegetable. The root vegetable is easy to grow and is used in countless dishes year-round.

In December 2023, the General Assembly of the United Nations designated 30 May as the International Day of Potato to raise awareness of the multiple nutritional, economic, environmental and cultural values of the potato and its contribution as an invaluable food resource and as a generator of income.

A Millenia-Old Foor From the Andes

A millennia-old food with origins in the South American Andes region that made its way to Europe in the 16th century then spread around the world, the potato is much more than a source of nourishment.

The potato represents one of the most important contributions of the Andean region to the entire world, as it is one of the five main food crops consumed in the world, contributing to food security.

United Nations >

In 2024, we celebrate the first International Day of Potato by focusing on the contribution of the potato to the lives of producers and consumers with the theme: Harvesting diversity, feeding hope.  #InternationalDayOfPotato

United Nations

The crop’s versatility and ability to grow in a variety of conditions make it an advantageous crop choice. Potatoes are also a climate-friendly crop, as they produce low levels of greenhouse gas emissions in comparison to other crops. In the past decade, the global production of potatoes has increased by 10 percent, leading to growth in employment and income.

Benefits of Potatoes

Potatoes are a decent source of fiber, which can help you feel full longer. Fiber also can help prevent heart disease by keeping your cholesterol and blood sugar levels in check. Potatoes are also rich in antioxidants that prevent diseases and vitamins that help your body function properly.

Potatoes may also provide some of the following health benefits:

Digestive Health

The fiber found in potatoes is a special type called “resistant starch,” which has the health benefits of both soluble fiber and insoluble fiber. You can increase the resistant starch in potatoes by cooking them a day ahead and cooling them in the fridge overnight. Feel free to reheat them before you eat.

Like soluble fiber, the resistant starch in potatoes acts as a prebiotic, compounds that are helpful to the bacteria in your gut. Like insoluble fiber, it can prevent or treat constipation and irritable bowel syndrome.

Disease Prevention

Potatoes are packed with antioxidants, molecules that fight free radicals from causing damage to your cells. A diet high in antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables may lower your risk of heart disease and cancer. 

To get the most antioxidants, leave the skins on and choose colorful varieties like red and purple potatoes. The more color, the more antioxidants. Plus, the skin of some potatoes can have up to 12 times more antioxidants than the flesh. 

Low Blood Pressure

Baked potato skin is a great source of potassium and magnesium. When you don’t have enough potassium in your diet, your body retains extra sodium, and too much sodium raises your blood pressure. A potassium-rich diet can help decrease blood pressure, protecting the heart and reducing the risk of stroke.

International Potato Day, vitamins. minerals, fiber, no fat, no cholesterol, low sodium, climate-friendly crop, prevent heart disease, prevent cancer, antioxidants, digestive health, resistance starch, soluble fiber, insoluluble fiber, prebiotic, treat constipation, treat irritable bowel syndrome, potassium, magnesium, vitamin C, vitamin B6

Potato Nutrition

One large baked Russet potato with the skin on has: 

• 25 milligrams vitamin C (more than 25% of the recommended daily value (RDA) of vitamin C)
• 1 milligram of vitamin B6 (100% of the RDA) 
• 1,640 milligrams of potassium (almost four times the amount in a medium-sized banana) 

Potatoes are also a good source of calcium, magnesium, and folate. 

Sources – International Potato Day

Featured image by Shameel mukkath

Articles:

Men’s Health – Why Potatoes Are Actually Good for You >
United Nations >
Web MD – Health Benefits of Potatoes >