The potato is a near perfect food. Nutrient dense, it is an
important dietary staple in over 130 countries. The US
Department of Agriculture has stated that "a diet of whole milk
and potatoes would supply almost all of the food elements
necessary for the maintenance of the human body." A single
medium-sized potato contains about half the daily adult
requirement of vitamin C, while other staples such as rice and
wheat have none. The potato itself is 99.9 percent fat free.
Boiled, it has more protein than maize, and nearly twice the
calcium. Potatoes can have 600-800 mg of potassium, about 40
percent more than a banana. Potassium is essential to the body
because of its role in attaining optimal muscle performance and
improving nerve response to stimulation. Iron, essential in
helping the body convert food to energy as well as resist
infection, is also found in potatoes. One would expect potatoes
to have minerals, as they spend their life underground. But
potatoes are also a great source of vitamins, even supply