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Canadian potato group challenging study

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Canadian potato group challenging study
The Canadian Potato Council (CPC) is challenging the conclusions of a
recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine on potatoes and
potato consumption, which wrongly depicts potatoes as a hindrance to weight
loss and maintaining a healthy body weight.

July 11, 2011, Ottawa,
Ont – The Canadian Potato Council (CPC) is challenging the conclusions of a
recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine on potatoes and
potato consumption, which wrongly depicts potatoes as a hindrance to weight
loss and maintaining a healthy body weight.

The majority of the
scientific nutrition community states that potatoes are nutrient-dense, meaning
many nutrients are obtained for the amount of calories.

According to leading
nutritionists such as Dr. Katherine Beals, R.D., Fellow of the American College
of Sports Medicine and a nutrition consultant to the United States Potato
Board, “the study calls into question the long-validated idea that the ultimate
determinate of weight gain and weight loss is calories in and calories out …
but the study says ‘total energy intake was not included as a co-variable.’
This means calories weren’t included in the analyses. So it’s disingenuous for
the researchers to say calories aren’t important because their study didn’t
control for them.”

Both the CPC and the
United States Potato Board point to the following scientifically validated
facts about potatoes which will allow people to make a better informed decision
when choosing whether or not to eat potatoes:

• Potatoes
  are vegetables. In fact, they are one of the most naturally nutrient-dense
  vegetables available. One medium-size (5.3 ounce) skin-on potato contains just
  110 calories per serving, has more potassium (620g) than a banana, provides
  almost half the daily value of vitamin C (45 per cent), and contains no fat,
  sodium or cholesterol.
• One
  baked potato offers about 20 per cent of the daily recommended amount
  of vitamin B6, which is good news for your heart. They are a good source of iron and copper.
  In fact, a potato a day is good for your heart, promoting normal
  blood-pressure levels.  As it turns out, the bad rap belongs to the
  toppings.  The health-conscious will want to bake, not fry, and be conscious
  of the nutritional value of the oils, toppings, and condiments that touch our
  spuds.
• You
  can lose the weight, without losing the potatoes. Research released by the
  University of California, Davis and the National Center for Food Safety and
  Technology, Illinois Institute of Technology in October 2010 demonstrates that
  people can include potatoes in their diet and still lose weight.
• Dr.
  Britt Burton-Freeman, PhD, MS and Director at the National Center for Food
  Safety and Technology (NCFST), Illinois Institute of Technology stated “there
  is no evidence that potatoes, when prepared in a healthful manner, contribute
  to weight gain. In fact, we are seeing that they can be part of a weight loss
  program.”
• Research
  released in April 2011 using data from National Health and Nutrition Examination
  Survey (NHANES) 2001-2008 demonstrates that meals including potatoes contain
  more servings of other vegetables, and are significantly higher in potassium,
  fibre and vitamin C.

“The (New England
Journal of Medicine) study is confusing, as it fails to quantify how an extra
serving of any food or beverage will affect your weight. Potatoes are Canada’s
number one vegetable, and an extremely healthy, versatile part of our diet,”
said CPC chair Keith Kuhl.

To download a
comprehensive review of potato nutrition facts and scientific research, visit www.potatogoodness.com and click on
“Potato Nutrition Handbook.”