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Potatoes

All articles tagged with #potatoes

Indigenous Andeans evolved more saliva amylase genes to digest potato starch
science1 month ago

Indigenous Andeans evolved more saliva amylase genes to digest potato starch

A Nature Communications study finds Indigenous Andeans in Peru have about 10 copies of the salivary amylase gene, more than the global average of seven, likely due to natural selection after potato domestication roughly 10,000 years ago. More gene copies can mean more amylase enzyme, potentially improving starch digestion; individuals with more copies had a 1.24% higher chance of surviving and reproducing, indicating a strong adaptive advantage that may have shaped this genome feature.

via Live Science|
#amylase#genetics#indigenous-andeans
French Fries Linked to Higher Type 2 Diabetes Risk, Diet Substitutions Matter
health-and-medicine1 month ago

French Fries Linked to Higher Type 2 Diabetes Risk, Diet Substitutions Matter

A BMJ study following over 205,000 U.S. health professionals for nearly 40 years found that three weekly servings of French fries are tied to a 20% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, while the same amount of boiled, baked, or mashed potatoes showed no significant increase. Replacing three weekly servings of potatoes with whole grains reduced risk by about 8%, replacing baked/boiled/mashed potatoes with whole grains reduced risk by about 4%, and replacing French fries with whole grains reduced risk by about 19%. Replacing potatoes with white rice increased diabetes risk. Because the study is observational, it cannot prove causation and may not generalize to all populations. The findings support favoring whole grains and moderating fried potato consumption as part of diabetes prevention.

via ScienceDaily|
#diabetes#french-fries#health-and-medicine
Six Everyday Foods with Hidden Health Perks
health2 months ago

Six Everyday Foods with Hidden Health Perks

A dietitian explains that six commonly enjoyed foods—potatoes, pasta, cheese, red wine, popcorn and dark chocolate—can carry surprising health benefits when prepared simply and eaten in moderation, showing that nutrition exists on a spectrum and that the idea of strict 'healthy' vs. 'unhealthy' foods is oversimplified.

via New York Post|
#cheese#health#pasta
Spudnik-1: Orbiting Potato Mistaken for Tentacled Alien
science3 months ago

Spudnik-1: Orbiting Potato Mistaken for Tentacled Alien

An apparently purple lifeform photographed on the ISS by NASA astronaut Don Pettit was revealed to be a purple potato sprouting in a hydroponic setup, with the so-called tentacles being sprouts and a Velcro patch keeping the potato in place. Nicknamed Spudnik-1, the potato highlights Pettit’s space gardening hobby, which has produced several crops in orbit; potatoes have been grown in space since 1995, though growth in microgravity tends to be slower.

via ScienceAlert|
#don-pettit#hydroponics#iss
Spudnik-1: Internet Freaks Out Over an Off-World Potato
science3 months ago

Spudnik-1: Internet Freaks Out Over an Off-World Potato

NASA astronaut Don Pettit's photo of an egg-shaped potato sprouting on the International Space Station — nicknamed Spudnik-1 — sparked online fear, as many netizens mistook the tentacle-like sprouts and white cilia for an alien egg. Pettit says the tuber was part of a space-garden experiment during Expedition 72 (2024–25); in microgravity roots can grow in all directions, and the white filaments were Velcro to keep them from floating away. The potato's fate isn’t known, but the project showcases potatoes as a practical crop for growing food off Earth.

via Yahoo|
#don-pettit#international-space-station#off-world-agriculture
Spudnik on the ISS: space garden potato steals the show
science3 months ago

Spudnik on the ISS: space garden potato steals the show

NASA astronaut Don Pettit posted a Expedition 72 photo of a bizarre tentacled object on the International Space Station; it’s actually an early purple potato nicknamed ‘Spudnik’ tied to a grow-light terrarium with Velcro. Pettit explained potatoes were grown in space as part of his off-duty gardening, noting roots behave differently in microgravity, while fans joked “kill it with fire.” The story highlights ongoing space agriculture efforts aboard the ISS and the station’s role as a long-running international lab.

via dailymail.co.uk|
#don-pettit#iss#nasa
Berlin's bumper potato harvest sparks citywide free-spud giveaway
world5 months ago

Berlin's bumper potato harvest sparks citywide free-spud giveaway

Germany’s record potato harvest led to a citywide free-potato giveaway in Berlin, with around 4,000 tonnes redirected from landfill to residents, soup kitchens, shelters, schools and even the zoo; 174 distribution points opened, including shipments to Ukraine, as the event—organized with Ecosia and a Berlin newspaper—shows both the abundance of the crop and tensions in food markets, while sparking new potato recipes and debates over surplus farming.

via The Guardian|
#berlin#food-aid#food-waste
Berlin bags free potatoes as Germany wrestles with bumper harvest
world5 months ago

Berlin bags free potatoes as Germany wrestles with bumper harvest

After a bumper national potato harvest, a Saxony farm distributes millions of potatoes for free to food banks, schools and churches, with Berlin receiving about 500,000 kg to help prevent waste; the effort, dubbed the “great potato rescue,” has mixed reactions—praised for reducing waste but criticized by some farmers for market disruption—and funding is expected to dry up later this year.

via BBC|
#berlin#food-banks#germany
Frequent French Fry Consumption Linked to Increased Diabetes Risk
health11 months ago

Frequent French Fry Consumption Linked to Increased Diabetes Risk

A new study suggests that while potatoes are generally healthy, French fries pose a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes due to their preparation involving frying and added salt. The study emphasizes that cooking methods significantly impact the healthfulness of potatoes, with baked, boiled, or mashed potatoes being healthier options. Potatoes are nutritious, providing fiber, vitamins, and minerals, but their health benefits can be diminished by unhealthy preparation and consumption habits. To enjoy potatoes healthily, it's recommended to cook them at home, leave the skin on, control portion sizes, and consider cooling cooked potatoes to increase resistant starch content.

via The Washington Post|
#cooking-methods#diabetes#french-fries