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Chris Voigt loves his task . And , it seems , he loves white potato vine , too . As executive director of the Washington State Potato Commission , Voigt has pledged to eat nothing but potatoes for two calendar month .
No toppings . No side . Just the wholesome goodness of 20potatoesa daytime to fulfil his caloric needs , from Oct. 1 to Nov. 29 .
" I want to show the world that the spud is so healthy that you could live off them alone for an lengthy period of time without any negative wallop to your health , " Voigt excuse on his website .
You do n’t get that form of committedness from the scallion commissioner , that no - near sycophant . But to paraphrase the announcer before any Evel Knievel stunt , " child , do n’t essay this at dwelling . "
Potatoes or nuts ?
Much research has been conducted on potatoes , and the conclusion draw by every medical Dr. and nutritionist on the planet is that you have to be nuts to reckon you could hold out off of potatoes .
To Voigt ’s deferred payment , his lighthearted stunt will educate the public about many healthy aspects of the white potato : a decent and inexpensive germ of vitamin C , vitamin B6 , atomic number 19 , atomic number 12 and , with the skin left on , dietetical vulcanized fiber .
Also , low - carb advocates are harsher on the potato than science allows them to be . Some potato varieties , machinate correctly , can be as healthy as the much - lauded whole grains . [ 7 Diet Tricks That Really act upon ]
Voigt did n’t insert this diet blindly . He told LiveScience he first consult with a doctor and dietitian to confirm he could go 60 Clarence Day on just potatoes . You demand sizable kidney to process the supernumerary potassium deport by 20 potatoes a day . You also ask a store of food white potato lack , such as vitamin A for proper vision , or elseexitthis diet blindly .
Potato vs. the world
The murphy ’s charm is its mediocrity : It is adecent shortage food , because it has modest amounts of many nutrients , as oppose to the so - call healthy orange , which just drive home vitamin C and some fiber . The United Nations has further the potato as ameans to eradicate world hungriness .
The problem is that murphy have a high glycemic forefinger , a measure of how quicklycarbohydratesare absorbed into the bloodstream . solid food with a high-pitched glycemic index finger — most notoriously , swear out food — are affiliate with weight gain , insulin resistance and diabetes .
Potatoes get big with the typical formulation : mashed and served with butter or gravy , or fry and salt .
" Irish potato can be an excellent part of a intelligent diet , but are not a healthy single germ diet , " say Barry Swanson , regents prof and interim film director of the School of Food Science at Washington State University and University of Idaho , a guy cable who traverses the two states that produce about one-half of North America ’s potatoes . " The glucose release in the consistency is pretty large for most Irish potato products since the amylum is pronto digestible . "
This mean the potato ab initio satisfies vitality need but , if that ’s your primary food source , leaves you hungry and exhaust a few hours afterwards , Swanson said . Like all starches , the potato is most healthful when exhaust with other vegetables .
A parched Russet has aglycemic indexof 76 . Most starch have a lower glycemic index number , such as white rice ( 64 ) , chocolate-brown Elmer Reizenstein ( 55 ) , lentils and beans ( under 30 ) and barley ( 25 ) , according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University . acetum and cold storage lowers the glycemic index finger . A stale , boil red potato has a glycemic power of 55 .
For the record , Voigt tell LiveScience his blood clams level is in the mid-90s , slightly high but within normal cooking stove and actually lower than his pre - diet measurement .
Man doth not endure by staff of life only
Can humans outlast on any individual food ? A hulk or other marine mammalian might do the trick . Some Inuit have pull through long periods entirely on meat , attaining vitamin cytosine in muktuk , the skin and blubber of whales .
amazingly , potato pop the question a all over protein if you feed enough , over 10 per day . But you would ultimately encounter deficiencies in vitamins A , B12and E , and calcium and selenium if you keep to just potatoes . Potatoes are slightly toxic , too . The poison is in the prow and leaves , but trace amounts can be in greenish spot on the potato itself and can cause serious illness if you eat enough .
In run through any exclusive veg , you are sacrifice nutrients . Soybeans , chickpea , Lens culinaris , or carrot also offer a good reach of nutrient . immanent , yes . I receive your suggestions .
Christopher Wanjek is the source of the books " Bad Medicine " and " intellectual nourishment At Work . " His column , Bad Medicine , appear on a regular basis on LiveScience .
