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FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF DECADES, potato consumption has taken a hit thanks to advocates of low-carb diets. More recently, observational research from the US has suggested that people who eat a lot of potatoes have a slightly increased risk of high blood pressure, weight gain and gestational diabetes (diabetes in pregnancy), compared with those who rarely consume potatoes.
But hold on. The research that led to headlines such as ‘Potatoes cause higher blood pressure’ and ‘Spuds’ risk to your health’ doesn’t actually prove one thing causes the other. We can’t be sure the problem isn’t simply how we serve our potatoes – with sprinklings of salt, lashings of butter, high-fat toppings or deep fried. After all, we know that too much salt can raise blood pressure and too much fat can contribute to weight gain.