Humble spud becomes latest superfood

The humble spud has emerged as an unlikely superfood after a study showed potatoes can reduce blood pressure.

Scientists fed 18 volunteers six to eight potatoes twice a day and found that after a month, their blood pressure readings had improved. Systolic blood pressure, the “upper” reading when blood is pumped, was down by 3.5 per cent. At the same time, the diastolic “lower” reading, showing the pressure between beats, decreased by 4.3 per cent.

Most of the patients were overweight and taking drugs for high blood pressure, yet the potatoes still had an effect.

“When prepared without frying and served without butter, one potato has only 110 calories and dozens of healthful phytochemicals and vitamins,” said lead researcher Dr Joe Vinson, from the University of Scranton in the United States.

Unfortunately for chip fans, high cooking temperatures destroy most of the healthy chemicals in potatoes.