• gastroglizzy@piefed.social
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    4 days ago

    Iirc, some nutritionist a while back did an experiment where they ate only potatoes for X number of days and proved that you can survive indefinitely off of only potatoes. You can also bury a piece of a potato and it willl grow into a potato plant. They’re basically an infinite food glitch.

      • TheReanuKeeves@lemmy.world
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        4 days ago

        I only recall the guy that did it for 60 days but he had to eat 7-8 pounds of potatoes a day to hit minimum protein requirements. His health markers were also very misleading because he went into the experiment as an unhealthy person. His bloodwork showed improvement because he was only eating potatoes rather than junk. Potatoes don’t have fat, so you’re not getting any essential omegas and along with the B12, there is little to none of: A, D, E, K, B2, B7, selenium, calcium, zinc, and a couple essential aminos

        Those deficiencies would lead to muscle wasting, loss of sight, hormone imbalances, weak bones, permanent nerve damage etc.

        If you put someone who is in good health on a potato diet for a year, even with B12, they would likely be looking at multiple organ failure by the end of that year

        • arrow74@lemmy.zip
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          3 days ago

          Eggs, cheese, onions, and a bit of cooking oil really complete most of the missing nutrients. Rather cheaply as well

          • TheReanuKeeves@lemmy.world
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            3 days ago

            You’ll be missing at least 6 essentials with that list. The shortest list with potatoes to hit everything at sustainable levels is potatoes, sardines, eggs, and a leafy green.

        • derek@infosec.pub
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          4 days ago

          Dogs may be goobers but they aren’t spuds and not acceptable foodstuffs either way. Regardless of breed. You monster.

    • DjangoFett@lemmy.zip
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      4 days ago

      I believe potatoes and cheese ultimately provide all the nutrition the body actually requires for average daily modern life.

      Like, you can actually be physically healthy and well by eating nothing else.

      Mentally speaking the jury is still out regarding the health of a person who chooses to live on nothing but potatoes and cheese, but daily nutritional requirements are absolutely met.

    • crank0271@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      A quick search brings up a couple people who have done this (Ireland notwithstanding). I remember this guy doing it, but there are others.

    • Eq0@literature.cafe
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      4 days ago

      You really have to define what “only potatoes” means, because most potato dishes also have a bunch of other ingredients