Potatoes:
Staple of an Empire
Food of the Incas
First cultivated by the Incas, the potato has thousands of edible varieties. Over 12,000 species have been preserved.
Most finicky eaters have no problems with eating hot potatoes. There is something comforting about their pleasant taste and the ease of combining them with other foods that has made them a favorite in kitchens the world over. Unfortunately, potato chips and fries are the worst way of eating this healthy tuber.
Most people regularly include potatoes in their diet. So, the next time you reach for some, boil, or better yet, bake them. Boiled potatoes lose 50 percent of the potassium they contain, while steamed potatoes lose less than 6 percent. Baked potatoes are a very good low calorie, high fiber alternative for those who require protection against heart disease and cancer.
Instead of smothering potatoes with butter or cheese, consider a topping of olive or coconut oil combined with steamed vegetables like carrots, cauliflower, or broccoli. Yogurt (or even cottage cheese) also makes a healthier low calorie topping than sour cream. .
Adding some finely chopped raw potato to your salad is not only nutritious, it will reduce your desire to eat too much of the main course.
Potatoes contain vitamin C, vitamin B6, copper, potassium, manganese, and dietary fiber.
Why Potatoes Are a Good for You
- Potatoes are a good source of copper which is essential for preventing heart disease and an important nutrient to maintain healthy skin and hair. Copper is also an essential element in the prevention of osteoporosis.
- Raw potato slices can be used to soothe burns. Put several thinly cut slices of raw potato on the affected area and replace them every five minutes. The starch soothes the pain.
- Unpeeled potatoes are a good source of potassium that controls blood pressure and decreases the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
- Inflammation of the intestine can be alleviated with potatoes. You’ll feel better because the potato is soft, easy to digest and has a lot of vitamin C (an anti-oxidant that helps repair and heal the body). Just one baked potato has close to half of the daily recommended requirement of vitamin C.
- Potatoes also contain essential compounds such as carotenoids, flavonoids, and caffeic acid, and patatin that protect against free radicals.
- For those exercising regularly, the Vitamin B6 content in potatoes helps in the breakdown of glycogen (a sugar stored in muscle cells and the liver).
- Raw potato juice encourages the growth of friendly bacteria in the intestine, and offers relief to those suffering from constipation or piles (hemorrhoids). Eczema can also be treated if the juice is consumed or applied on the affected area.
Since raw potato juice isn’t very palatable to drink, you might want to mix it with carrot, lemon or apple juice. A little honey will add extra benefits. The easiest way to get the juice is to grate the potato and squeeze it out.
Cautions:
Excessive doses of Potato juice can be toxic.
Avoid eating potatoes that have turned green as the skin contains the toxin solanine, an alkaloid. This could lead to a headache or drowsiness in some people. Try to buy organically grown potatoes since pesticides sprayed on the crops seep through the skin. Organic potatoes should be consumed with the jacket since it contains a lot of fiber and nutrients.
Because microwaves literally rip molecules apart, making the recombined result unrecognizable as food to our own digestive system, we strongly recommend you avoid microwaving potatoes or any food.
Try Something New
Although your grocer is not likely to carry more than 3 or 4 varieties, you can usually find a larger selection at your local farmer’s market. If you’d like to try more of the thousands of varieties, I suggest you grow a few yourself. Potatoes are not hard to grow, and you can delight your friends and family with variety and freshness you’ll never get at the market. One source which I’ve personally used and recommend is Ronniger Potato Farm
Photo credit: ramyo
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