Have high blood pressure? Potatoes may help you to lower it.Although local potatoes are smaller in this year’s crop, they are still a good source of nutrition especially complex carbohydrates. And the smaller potatoes, commonly referred to as baby new potatoes often provide us with more fibre as we leave the skin on them.PotatoesScientific name: Solanum tuberosumFamily of: SolanaceaeRelated to: Tomatoes, eggplantGrown: in BermudaVitamin content: A very good source of vitamin C and a good source of pyridoxine (B6).Mineral content: A good source of manganese, potassium, and copper.Dietary Fibre: A good source of fibre with about 3.8 grams in one medium sized baked potato.Omega 3 fatty acids: There are about 22.5 milligrams of omega 3s in one medium sized baked potato.Omega 6 fatty acids: There are about 74.4 milligrams in one medium sized baked potato.Protein: There are 4.3 grams in one medium sized baked potato.Good for: The danger with potatoes is that they tend to be consumed as greasy French fries, or baked and loaded with sour cream, butter or other fattening product.If baked in their skin or boiled and eaten plainly or with fresh herbs, their nutritional benefits are better realised.New research shows that 60 different phytochemicals (plant compounds) and vitamins are in the skins and flesh of 100 wild and commercially grown potatoes. Scientists at the Institute for Food and Research in the UK have identified blood pressure lowering compounds called kukoaamines in potatoes.The high concentration of vitamin B6 found in potatoes makes it important in building healthy cells. It is involved in more than 100 enzyme reactions in the body including the creation of amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) and nucleic acids the building blocks of DNA. It is essential in the formation of heme the protein centre of our red blood cells and the phospholipid cell membrane that enables communication between cells.Vitamin B6 also protects the heart as it is integral in transforming homocysteine to a benign substance in the body. Homocysteine damages blood vessels and high levels can increase the progression of atherosclerosis and are associated with increased risk of heart attack and stroke.Vitamin B is also important in athletic performance as it breaks down glycogen, the form in which sugar is stored in the muscles and liver.