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RESEARCH PERSPECTIVE
Eating Potatoes As Part Of A Healthy Diet Can Support Nutrition Needs During Pregnancy
by mitch kanter, phd
Almost all the available nutrition lit- erature indicates Americans fail to meet daily fruit and vegetable rec- ommendations. By doing so, they’re missing out on several key nutrients, particularly certain vitamins, minerals and fiber. This can be an especially important issue for women who are pregnant, or hoping to become pregnant. It is well known that a mother’s health and dietary choices, particularly during the first trimester of pregnancy, influence the health of their babies. However, research on the nutritional status among women of childbearing age (19-50) doesn’t paint a very positive picture.
Recent studies indicate women in this age range in the United States are not meeting nutrient intake guidelines, particularly women of color or those in lower socio-economic groups. In fact, a study commissioned a couple of years ago by the Alliance for Potato Research and Education (APRE) using NHANES data (NHANES is one of the largest and most respected ongoing nutrition/health databases in the world) suggested women between the ages of 19-50 consumed only half of the recommended servings of vegetables per day (1.43 cup equivalents/day vs. the current daily recommendation of 2.5-3 cup equivalents). Further white potato consumption averaged about 2 cups per week; the recommendation for starchy vegetables is 5-6 cups per week.
As one would expect, this less-than-optimal intake of vegetables leads to lower-than-rec- ommended intakes of important nutrients including potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, folate and dietary fiber.
Why Potatoes?
While protein and fat have generated signif- icant attention among macronutrients in recent years, the value of carbohydrates in the diet is often overlooked. And, at a time when the overall diet should be considered (vs. individual foods), potatoes’ nutritional value is sometimes misrepresented because of the lower nutritional value of foods often consumed with some forms of potatoes. Further, potatoes are much more than a source of carbohydrates (though, it should be pointed out, carbohydrates are
14 / AUGUST 2018 / PRODUCE BUSINESS
With the diets of women of childbearing
age clearly lacking a number of nutrients of concern, regular potato consumption, as part of a healthy overall diet can be an excellent way to make up for nutrient shortfalls.
an important energy source for pregnant women as well as their babies in the womb), and they certainly shouldn’t be vilified for “the company” they sometimes keep.
Potatoes are a rich source of vitamins B-6 and C. They are also high in folate, a key vitamin during pregnancy that is important for normal fetal brain and spinal cord development. One medium size, skin-on potato contains just 110 calories, is one of the best natural sources of potassium (boasting more potassium than a banana), and contains about 4-5 grams of dietary fiber. Further, the protein quality of a potato is higher than most any other vegetable, and is as high or higher than many animal protein sources. And, it should be remembered that potatoes contain negligible amounts of fat and sodium, and no cholesterol.
Newer research indicates cooking prepa- ration can impact the nutritional value of a potato as well. Many varieties of potatoes, when cooked and then cooled, produce a compound called resistant starch (a fiber-like compound that purports to promote several health benefits, including greater satiety after a meal and, possibly, lower blood lipid levels
and a decreased risk of developing diabetes and other related conditions).
So, for a variety of reasons, potatoes can be an excellent source of nutrition for an expectant mother, or a woman who hopes to become pregnant in the future. With the diets of women of childbearing age clearly lacking a number of nutrients of concern, regular potato consump- tion, as part of a healthy overall diet can be an excellent way to make up for nutrient shortfalls.
That said, per capita potato availability in 2017 was about 33.4 pounds, off 1 percent from 33.6 pounds in 2016, and down 9 percent from 36.8 pounds in 2010. To a large extent, this is attributable to the aforementioned high protein, low carb trend that has been so popular in recent years. For women of child- bearing age, however, adherence to a low carb diet makes it difficult to attain the nutrient levels so important for sustaining a healthy pregnancy. Encouraging consumption of all vegetables, including white potatoes, prior to and during pregnancy can help to address the nutrient gaps so prevalent in women of childbearing age.
Mitch Kanter, PhD, is the chief science officer with FoodMinds, a division of Padilla, in Chicago IL. He leads nutri- tion research and scientific projects and programming for FoodMinds clients. He also leads the FoodMinds Global Expert Bench, a group of nutrition scientists and technical communications experts
from around the world who provide strategic counsel to FoodMinds clients on various international projects. During his 25-plus years in the food industry, he has served in various technical leadership roles for a number of multinational companies.
The author serves as a paid consultant to the Alliance for Potato Research & Education (APRE) through his work at FoodMinds. APRE supports nutrition research and sci- ence education to advance understanding and accep- tance of the role of potatoes in healthy lifestyles.