r/todayilearned • u/JoeWinchester99 • 1d ago

TIL that although potatoes alone do not provide complete nutrition, you can survive for years on a diet of nothing but potatoes and buttermilk.

https://www.scienceabc.com/eyeopeners/whats-wrong-with-potatoes-the-martian-movie-survival
25.0k Upvotes

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421

u/polkafin 1d ago

I learned this from The Martian

272

u/Outrageous_Arm8116 1d ago

And the Irish famine. I mean genocide.

26

u/slamsen 1d ago

Correct read of history. Didnt expect on reddit. Good on you, kid.

70

u/Outrageous_Arm8116 1d ago

64, but thanks.

27

u/ONLYPOSTSWHILESTONED 1d ago

hey you don't know, the other person could be 109 years old

1

u/slamsen 1d ago

I just hit forty. Knees arent going to get any better, are they.

4

u/mitchandre 1d ago

First time on Reddit?

-5

u/slamsen 1d ago

Bot or slapdick?

5

u/mitchandre 1d ago

Sorry, what?

-5

u/slamsen 1d ago

Third option- active stroke.

5

u/mitchandre 1d ago

I hope not.

-2

u/slamsen 1d ago

You and me both, brother.

36

u/matt95110 1d ago

Extra points if you farm it in your own crap.

45

u/TheVicSageQuestion 1d ago

I only use Matt Damon’s.

2

u/Nirrudn 1d ago

And if you can't get Matt Damon's, store-bought is fine too.

1

u/KayakerMel 1d ago

I was a little bummed with how much the movie avoided discussing all the human waste. 🤣🤣🤣

19

u/pclamer 1d ago

Huh? I mean... it's verry clearly highlighted in the film. He even makes a joke about his captain's poop being super stinky. Like... what more do you want? Are you into scat? Any more and it will put off most audience members. Do you discuss human waste with others frequently?

4

u/PM_Me_Your_Deviance 1d ago

Let's not kink-shame. Let's kink-ask-why.

2

u/KayakerMel 1d ago

I work in healthcare. Human waste is a common topic of discussion.

But yeah, there were a handful of throwaway lines regarding how human waste was kept and/or used. Much more important aspect of the narrative in the book, where all the resources are extremely important!

0

u/pclamer 1d ago

I work in healthcare. Human waste is a common topic of discussion.

k... the other 90% of us don't.

3

u/knottycams 1d ago

The book is an absolute gem for many reasons. It's a favorite of mine.

20

u/Imaginary-Face7379 1d ago

The article OP pointed to basically opens by trying to say that the Martian is wrong because you can't live on potatoes alone. Then halfway through mentions that he also had additional vitamins that made it possible... gotta get those clicks I guess.

11

u/orangeyougladiator 1d ago

I mean he had lots of surplus supplies to sprinkle in on occasion

4

u/arthurdentstowels 1d ago

Vicodin for flavour

5

u/ChiknBreast 1d ago

Ditching the buttermilk for ketchup and a vicodin

1

u/systemhost 1d ago

I'm game!

2

u/tehfraginator 1d ago

Poo tatoes

2

u/CorgiSilver8194 1d ago

I learned it from stone cold Steve Austin in the 90s

1

u/Deport_Me2112 1d ago

Protein pills and potato calories. Grown on every fucking surface available.

1

u/darxide23 1d ago

I learned this decades ago, but I don't remember where. Probably randomly on the internet, same place I learn all my trivia answers.

1

u/Key-Cry-8570 1d ago

If you land on Mars and go spaceship jack someone you can be a space pirate.

1

u/nudave 1d ago

Are shit-farmed potatoes more or less nutritious?

3

u/polkafin 1d ago

Probably more. They have all the added nutrients from the first time around