Aurornis a year ago

Bananas have a decent amount of potassium per serving. A lot more than many foods. That’s not a myth.

The only myth is that bananas are a unique source of potassium. A lot of foods have similar or more amounts of potassium per serving or by weight.

tomcam a year ago

Come to think of it, you’re right. It was when he showed up with a big ol’ bag full of potatoes that we knew it was gonna be a serious party.

  • SquibblesRedux a year ago

    Can one simply stick to vodka, skip the potatoes, and reap all the benefits?

yabatopia a year ago

Fair enough, but I still prefer the banana. Just a little bit tastier than a raw potato.

LinuxBender a year ago

Adding to that bananas are high in sugar. 12 to 15 grams each

  • etrautmann a year ago

    Potatoes have almost double the glycemic index of a banana, meaning that the impact on metabolism and insulin production is greater and faster.

    • hollerith a year ago

      True, but just because fructose has a low GI doesn't make it good for you.

      • SlightlyLeftPad a year ago

        If it helps you sleep, a banana isn’t going to kill you. If it doesn’t help you sleep, then don’t eat a banana, that’s also okay.

    • nelup20 a year ago

      Afaik if you cool the potatoes down to get resistant starch, the GI should be similar to a banana

spokaneplumb a year ago

Two bananas to a potato (I assume we’re talking something like a russet, not a little red potato?) sounds generous to the potato, if we’re talking volume equivalence.

A potato’s a meal. A banana’s a lightish snack.

  • slifin a year ago

    Per 100g ground beef is 300+mg of potassium

    No carbs, no sugars, no fiber induced bloating, could easily get more than 100g into a meal

    My understanding is potassium also competes with salt in the body

  • worthless-trash a year ago

    I've only ever been able to finish raw banana. I've tried raw potato but it was almost gag worthy.

    • lostlogin a year ago

      The gagging reminds me, there aren’t many things that beat the smell of a rotting potato.

      • worthless-trash a year ago

        Rotting human flesh is pretty bad. Thats the only thing I can think of worse.

adrianN a year ago

How much does that potato weigh? The size of potatoes varies quite a bit

rainclouds a year ago

Sadly I don’t think French fries have the same effect.

  • gweinberg a year ago

    Potassium is a chemical element, frying it won't change the potassium level.

    • serf a year ago

      you can most definitely change the levels of components in a fried food.

      the oil gets 'dirty' from extended use in frying. Why is it dirty? It's not dirt, and it's not oil breakdown (in most cases).

      The oil is drawing components from the food into itself.

      Forget the frying for a second; most fries are parboiled or blanched -- this also leeches material away from the vegetable, this time it leaves with the water used for blanching.

      A french fry is delicious, but it's different than a potato -- even if it's made from one.

    • pertymcpert a year ago

      I don't know about the case of potassium specifically, but in general I thought that the bioavailability of elements can vary with different types of cooking?

    • bowsamic a year ago

      Why would something being an element mean that heating it as part of a food wouldn’t act as a catalyst for some chemical interaction?

      • echoangle a year ago

        There would still be potassium in there, unless it’s pulled out by the frying oil.

        Elements can’t get lost in a chemical reaction. You can only change the molecule they’re part of, so it might not be processable by the human body, but the potassium isn’t going to disappear.

    • hilux a year ago

      I guess that depends how hot you fry it.

      • rbanffy a year ago

        How hot would it need to be do fission a stable isotope of Potassium?