Although it may have fallen from grace in the market, as a glut of potatoes in Northern Ireland has caused prices to crash and some banks to withdraw credit for next season, new scientific findings may see the humble potato besting its current competitors pasta and rice.

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The study looked at the effects of eating two small helpings of purple potatoes (Purple Majesty; a US variety) a day, and concluded that this decreases blood pressure by about 4 percent without causing weight gain. The researchers behind the study claim that the decrease, although seemingly small, is sufficient to potentially reduce the risk of several forms of heart disease.

In Northern Ireland, however, the situation for potato farmers looks grim. Consumer demand has fallen 10 per cent and although last winter farmers were able to export their crops, with a large amount of surplus going to Russia, there have been no such opportunities this year. This has resulted in farm gate prices for potatoes crashing by 30 per cent.

Potatoes contain healthy antioxidants; previous studies conducted in the United States have identified substances in potatoes with effects similar to those of the well-known ACE-inhibitor medications, a mainstay for treating high blood pressure. The US researchers said that they do not know whether white potatoes carry the same health benefits.

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