Boiled, stewed and fried, in the oven, in a frying pan and deep-fried, baked in their skins and mashed: every day millions of Russians eat tens of thousands of tons of potatoes.
But few people realize how dangerous such a “diet” can be, and in what cases it can bring enormous benefits.
What secrets does such a seemingly simple and native root vegetable, the potato, keep?
Potatoes: composition, calorie content
One medium-sized boiled potato contains 120-150 kcal. By simple calculations we are convinced: 5 tubers contain about 700 kcal, and this is more than a third of the daily norm. Therefore, doctors recommend that overweight people limit potatoes in their diet. Purees, which contain much more calories, are especially prohibited, not to mention dry semi-finished products, the composition of which is pure starch.
If there are 150 kcal in a boiled potato tuber, then fried - about 500, almost like a candy bar. Unfortunately, it is fried potatoes that appear in our diet most often. In general, over the course of a year, Russians eat 36% more potatoes than all other vegetables and fruits combined.
The calorie content of potatoes increases along with the duration of their storage, so “young” tubers can be considered dietary, and those left to rest until spring can be considered very nutritious.
How to use potatoes, which varieties to choose
Of the more than 4,000 potato varieties that exist in the world, more than 400 are grown in Russia. There are varieties intended for industrial processing, for example, for making French fries or chips. And there are table varieties that are sold unchanged in stores for general use.
Knowing the names of several different varieties and understanding what is best to prepare from them is, at a minimum, useful. So, the optimal potato varieties for preparing the following dishes:
soups or salads– durum varieties “Nevsky”, “Leader”, “Udacha”, “Nikulinsky”;
puree– starchy potatoes “Sineglazka”, “Lorch”, “Andretta”, “Elizabeth”;
frying– tubers with a large amount of dry matter and an average starch content: “Bryansky Early”, “Nadezhda”, “Kolobok”, “Impala”.
If the seller is not sure about the potato variety, you can focus on the color of the tubers: pink varieties are suitable for frying and salads, and white varieties are suitable for purees.
To preserve the benefits of potatoes, you need to store them properly. Optimal conditions are dark, cool dry place with a temperature of +7 degrees Celsius. It is strictly forbidden to keep potatoes at temperatures below +2 - in this case, starch turns into sugar, the tubers become sweet and begin to rot. Storing potatoes in cellophane also leads to rotting and the tubers “suffocate.”
Potatoes: what are the benefits for the body?
Potatoes are an irreplaceable source of starch, which has a beneficial effect on digestion. Periodic consumption of boiled and stewed potatoes has a positive effect on the health of the human body. The average potato tuber, the size of an average apple, contains approximately 700 mg of potassium. This is most of the recommended daily intake.
Potassium nourishes muscle tissue, not only skeletal muscle, but also heart muscle, so people with cardiovascular diseases are often advised to eat more potatoes. Also, due to the large amount of potassium, potatoes are useful as a diuretic. Very useful at feasts, because if you have boiled potatoes for a snack, then the next morning there will be no swelling. But the diuretic effect disappears if the potatoes are salted.
Potatoes are rich in B vitamins:
Pyridoxine B6 stimulates metabolism;
Thiamine B1 protects cell membranes from toxic effects;
Riboflavin B2 essential for healthy skin and hair growth.
All B vitamins function as antidepressants. So, to some extent, potatoes save you from stress and calm you down.
Phosphorus, bromine, cobalt, zinc, manganese, and some other substances useful for the human body are contained in potatoes. In addition, the fiber in potatoes is neutral, non-aggressive, and does not irritate the stomach and intestines, which is why doctors use it in diets for gastrointestinal diseases.
Another important ingredient in potatoes is chlorogenic acid, a powerful antioxidant. It is contained in the peel, and therefore it is recommended to eat potatoes baked directly with the peel, or boiled in their skins. But this does not apply to old potatoes; only young specimens will benefit.
Potatoes are beneficial to those who consume them boiled no more than once a day, without adding fat.
Traditional medicine uses potatoes to treat:
Upper respiratory tract diseases - breathe over the steam of boiled potatoes for ten minutes;
Protracted cough - boil an apple along with a potato and an onion in a liter of water until half of it remains, strain and drink several spoons three times a day;
Pain in the gastrointestinal tract, heartburn - on an empty stomach half an hour before breakfast and before bedtime, drink freshly prepared potato juice from tubers, 0.25 cups;
Oncological diseases - 1 tablespoon of dried potato flowers is poured into 0.5 liters of boiling water and simmered in a water bath for three hours, drink the strained infusion three times a day, half an hour before meals, half a glass;
Gastritis with high acidity and ulcers - drink 0.75 glasses of freshly prepared juice on an empty stomach, then lie down for half an hour, and after another half hour you can have breakfast;
Hypertension - eat potatoes cooked in their jackets every day;
Hemorrhoids - before going to bed, make a “candle” from a raw potato using a knife and carefully insert it with the blunt end into the anus, go to bed. In the morning, the suppository will come out on its own during bowel movements.
Potatoes: what are the health benefits?
The homeland of potatoes is South America. The inhabitants of these lands have known hundreds of potato dishes since ancient times. In the 16th century, the Spanish conquistadors decided to feed the Old World with this tasty and healthy product. The experiment failed: Europeans, and later Russians, flatly refused to grow potatoes. Promoting potatoes on our lands has become a big problem. Oddly enough, people initially liked potato berries more. But later it turned out that they were life-threatening.
A green spot on a potato is very dangerous!
In fact, not only berries, but also tubers contain the alkaloid solanine, which is very toxic to humans. A poison for humans and many insects, solanine plays a leading role in the growth and development of the plant itself. Without solanine, potatoes would not have such a beloved taste, and would be susceptible to active destruction by insects and fungi.
The harm of potatoes due to solanine for humans is conditional. To feel seriously poisoned, you would need to eat several kilograms of potatoes with a large amount of solanine at once. Damage to potatoes is usually manifested by their color - potatoes full of solanine turn green.
Some housewives believe that by cutting off the green parts of the potato, the remaining potatoes will not cause harm. This is a serious mistake - from the barely green part of the potato, the poison quickly spreads throughout the entire tuber; such potatoes should not be eaten!
Rotten potatoes are deadly harmful!
Spoilage of potatoes - be it chemical or biological toxins, it still poisons the body to one degree or another. During the process of rotting potatoes, harmful asphyxiating gases - thiols - are produced. If you sniff one such tuber, it’s okay, but if you find yourself in a cellar with rotten potatoes in the spring, the harm can be fatal.
Lesions can be caused by insects, as well as damage from shoveling, blows and disease. There are more than a hundred of the latter, and none of them directly harms humans, unless they cause rot.
Damage to potatoes after chemical treatment
Potatoes that have been overly treated with pesticides to protect them from weeds and pests pose an undeniable danger. The most used pesticide, glyphosade, is linked to breast cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma, and other tumors. It is also a destructor of the endocrine and reproductive systems.
Potatoes for children: good or bad
Everyone knows that children need slightly different nutrition than adults. Eating potatoes is no exception. Potatoes are harmful for children when fried, and undesirable in the form of fatty mashed potatoes. Boiled potatoes can be given to bottle-fed children no earlier than five months. For children who receive breast milk, potatoes are not an urgent need - they can try potatoes by the age of eight months, after zucchini and pumpkin puree, broccoli, carrots and apples.
Before cooking, soak the vegetables in cold water for an hour, preferably two. This way you can remove some of the possible harmful substances from the top layer of the peel. Potatoes for children are prepared with their skins on, after which they are removed and mashed. If suddenly a child has an allergy to potatoes, then you can try the root vegetable again no earlier than one year of age. Experts say that pesticide residues in vegetables can cause anemia and even affect the mental development of children.
Unfortunately, chemically harmful GMO potatoes and tubers do not look or taste any different from natural tubers. The only way out is to give preference to trusted sellers when purchasing.
Kira Stoletova
The benefits and harms of potatoes are very relative concepts, which largely depend on the correct use of the product. The beneficial properties of potatoes are based on their rich composition, and the harm is based on some features of storage and preparation. Let's look at how potatoes are good for the body and in what cases they can harm us.
Composition of potatoes
Potatoes are useful for humans because they are a storehouse of valuable vitamins and substances we need. There is no need to talk about the benefits of vitamin C - it is a powerful support for our immunity, a weapon against free radicals, an assistant in the absorption of iron, an important component of the normal functioning of the circulatory system. It is worth recalling the B vitamins, especially B6. Its presence makes ordinary potatoes an important assistant in the functioning of the cardiovascular and nervous systems, extremely useful for anemia, toxicosis, neuralgia and dermatitis.
The high potassium content has a beneficial effect on heart function, improves metabolism, and reduces the level of “bad” cholesterol. Starch, which this vegetable abounds in, helps cope with mucosal irritation caused by the effects of medications. In addition, chemical compounds found in potatoes can lower blood pressure. We should not forget about the nutritional value of this vegetable: properly cooked potatoes supply us with useful substances, and in addition, they help cleanse the body and remove excess fluid.
Effect of solanine
Whether potatoes will be harmful or beneficial largely depends on the presence of a certain insidious substance called solanine in it. It is found in the peel, green areas and sprouts of potatoes, and if stored improperly, it penetrates under the peel and deeper inside the vegetable. (By improper storage we mean saving the tubers for too long and storing them in a bright place.)
If sprouts appear on the tubers, this is a sign that the level of solanine in the vegetable has increased significantly. It is better not to consume such tubers, but if you have to, cut off the skin on them in a very thick layer.
A vegetable that contains this substance can cause serious problems in the digestive and nervous systems. The most serious contraindication to consuming sprouted potatoes concerns pregnant women, as well as young children. To avoid dangerous changes in the properties of potatoes, they should be stored in a cold and dark place (the best option is a cellar with a temperature no higher than six degrees).
Benefits for your figure
This product is known for its calorie content (one hundred grams of the product contains 76 kcal) and high starch content, which is why it is rarely found on the list of approved diet products for weight loss. And at the same time, it has the ability to remove water, cleanse the stomach, improve metabolism and perfectly satisfy hunger. Are high-calorie potatoes good or bad for our figure? This largely depends on the method of its preparation.
Little remains of the beneficial properties of potatoes if you deep-fry them, soak them in water for a long time, or add a lot of fat during cooking. At the same time, the calorie content of fried potatoes can increase three, four, or even five times! In general, the product will not at all spoil the effect of your diet and exercise if consumed in moderation, baked or boiled, without fat. It’s not for nothing that this vegetable is called “second bread” - this folk wisdom contains very useful advice: just replace flour products with boiled tuber and your figure will not suffer at all.
Beauty benefits
Experts argue not only for the benefits of potatoes for our health, but also for their importance in the beauty industry. Cosmetologists have long known the magical properties of young potatoes and their benefits for the skin of the hands, neck, face, nails and hair. Products from this vegetable have nourishing, regenerating, tonic and anti-inflammatory properties. Starch helps eliminate wrinkles and sagging, brightens the skin, and tightens pores. What is important is that it does not cause allergic reactions and is suitable for almost everyone.
In home cosmetology, raw potato juice is used, as well as mashed potatoes after boiling. Using simple ingredients, you can prepare a variety of masks for the face, neck, hands, hair and nails - completely natural, healing and effective. (You can add milk, honey, egg white, lemon juice, olive oil and other natural ingredients to homemade cosmetic masks that enhance the effect of potatoes.) In addition, traditional medicine advises using gruel from the raw tuber to treat not too old calluses.
Other useful properties
- This product promotes the construction of proteins in the human body, and also plays an important role in the creation of the “hormone of joy” - serotonin.
- It has been found that people who consume potatoes are less likely to experience insomnia and have stronger memory.
- Raw potato juice is beneficial for the body, helping to fight migraines and digestive problems. In addition, compresses from the raw product heal skin diseases.
- Even the insidious solanine, which cannot be consumed as food, is successfully used in medicine to treat burns.
Contraindications
- Excessive potato consumption can negatively affect joint health if a person already has problems in this area. It is not necessary to completely exclude the product from your diet - just reduce its amount.
- Having a high glycemic index, this product is dangerous for people with diabetes. In such cases, potato consumption should be eliminated or minimized, combining it with products whose index is extremely low. Additionally, diabetics should soak potatoes before cooking and eating them.
- You should not eat this product if you have intestinal diseases, high acidity or sexually transmitted diseases.
Insidious starch. What is the harm?
The potato is an edible plant whose tubers were first cultivated by people in the Andes. Spanish sailors brought potatoes to Europe from their South American expeditions in the early 16th century.
Despite the wide popularity of potatoes today, they were previously considered inedible or even poisonous.
Along with tomatoes and eggplants, potatoes belong to the nightshade family, some of which are truly poisonous. Today potatoes are one of the cheapest universal crops to grow and are available all year round; they grow in literally every farmstead and summer cottage in Russia.
In many cases, if a food lacks color, it may also lack essential nutrients; potatoes, however, are an exception.
The humble potato is greatly underrated for its nutritional value. Due to the increased interest in low-carb or low-glycemic index foods, potatoes have unfairly earned a bad reputation due to their starchy nature, leading many to believe that they should be eliminated from the diet altogether.
However, this dense tuber is packed with various vitamins, minerals and phytoncides that can ward off disease and have a beneficial effect on human health.
Here are some key points about this tuber.
- Potatoes are part of the nightshade family
- Some evidence suggests it may help reduce inflammation and constipation.
- A serving of potatoes contains about 164 calories and contains a third of the recommended daily value of B6
- Possible health benefits of consuming potatoes
The benefits of potatoes for human health
Potatoes have more nutritional benefits than is often thought. Eating fruits and vegetables of all types has long been associated with a reduced risk of many lifestyle-related diseases.
This is a healing product. Approximately 20-25% of the weight of tubers is carbohydrates (starch), about 2% is proteins and 0.3% is fat. Tuber protein is rich in various amino acids and belongs to complete proteins. Potatoes contain a lot of potassium (568 mg per 100 g of wet weight), phosphorus (50 mg), a significant amount of magnesium, calcium and iron. The tubers contain vitamins C, B, B2, B6, B PP, D, K, E, folic acid, carotene and organic acids: malic, oxalic, citric, caffeic, chlorogenic and other acids. Read more about its nutritional value below.
Useful properties of potatoes
Due to the high potassium content, potatoes help remove water and table salt from the body, which improves metabolism, so potatoes are considered an indispensable product in the diet. Read more in the article: “The importance of eating foods rich in potassium.” Baked potatoes are especially rich in potassium, retaining maximum nutrients. It is even recommended to be used for hypertension, atherosclerosis and heart failure.
Due to the high carbohydrate content, potatoes have a fairly high calorie content - almost 2-3 times higher than other vegetables. Therefore, those who are prone to obesity should limit their addiction to potatoes. However, everyone else should not overuse potatoes. The starch it contains in its pure form is not absorbed by our body, and therefore nutritionists advise eating potatoes no more than several times a week. At the same time, potatoes exhibit very useful properties in the fight against gastritis with high acidity and peptic ulcers of the stomach and duodenum. Unlike many other protein-containing foods, potatoes have an alkalizing effect on the human body, which is very important for people suffering from high acidity. In addition to starch, potatoes contain proteins, ascorbic acid and many vitamins. And although their content is not very high, due to the fact that we eat potatoes in decent portions, a large amount of these substances enters our body.
Below are some of the potential beneficial qualities of potatoes for human health:
1) Benefits of potatoes for bone health
The iron, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and zinc in potatoes contribute to the building and maintenance of bone structure and strength.
Iron and zinc play a critical role in collagen synthesis and maturation. Although phosphorus and calcium are important in bone structure, a careful balance of these two minerals is necessary for proper bone mineralization - consuming too much phosphorus with too little calcium can lead to bone loss and osteoporosis .
2) The benefits of potatoes for blood pressure
Maintaining a low sodium intake is important for maintaining normal blood pressure, however, increasing dietary potassium intake may be equally important due to its vasodilatory effects.
Moreover, potassium, calcium and magnesium present in potatoes reduce blood pressure.
3) Benefits for Heart Health
Potatoes' fiber, potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin B6 content, combined with their lack of cholesterol, all help support heart health.
Potatoes contain significant amounts of fiber, which helps lower the total amount of cholesterol in the blood, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. In one study, those who consumed 4,069 milligrams of potassium per day had a 49 percent lower risk of death from coronary heart disease compared to those who consumed less potassium (about 1,000 mg per day).
4) Anti-inflammatory effect of potatoes
Choline is an important and versatile nutrient found in potatoes, it helps with sleep, is important for muscle contractions, maintains cell membrane structure, helps in the transmission of nerve impulses, aids in the absorption of fats and reduces chronic inflammation.
5) Potatoes against cancer
Potatoes contain folic acid, which plays an important role in DNA synthesis and repair, thereby preventing the formation of cancer cells from DNA mutations.
Consuming dietary fiber from fruits and vegetables, such as potatoes, is associated with a low risk of colorectal cancer. Vitamin C and the bioflavonoid quercetin are powerful antioxidants that help protect cells from free radical damage.
6) The benefits of potatoes for digestion and regular bowel movements
7) Weight management and satiety
Dietary fiber is generally an important factor in weight management and weight loss, functioning as ballast in the digestive system. These chemical compounds increase satiety and reduce appetite, thereby reducing overall calorie intake.
8) Benefits for metabolism
Potatoes are an excellent source of vitamin B6, which plays an important role in energy metabolism by breaking down carbohydrates and proteins into glucose and amino acids. These smaller compounds are more easily used to produce energy in the body.
9) The effect of potatoes on the skin
Collagen, the main building block of skin, depends on vitamin C, which works as an antioxidant in our bodies to prevent skin damage from the sun, pollution and smoke. Vitamin C also promotes the properties of collagen to smooth out wrinkles and improve overall skin texture.
Nutritional value of potatoes
One medium tuber contains:
- 164 calories;
- 0.2 g fat;
- 0 g cholesterol;
- 37 grams carbohydrates;
- 4.7 g dietary fiber;
- 4.3 g. Squirrel.
The same serving provides the following percentage of your daily nutrient needs:
- 2% calcium;
- 51% vitamin C;
- 9% iron;
- 30% vitamin B6;
- 12% magnesium;
- 25% potassium.
Potatoes also provide the body with phosphorus, niacin, folic acid, choline, and zinc.
Unlike processed potato products such as french fries and potato chips, in general, raw potatoes have very little sodium (just 13 mg - less than 1% of the daily limit).
Potatoes also contain a compound known as alpha lipoic acid, which helps the body convert glucose into energy and is also an antioxidant.
Some evidence suggests that alpha lipoic acid may help control blood glucose levels, improve vasodilation, protect against retinopathy in diabetics, and preserve the brain and peripheral nerves.
Quercetin, flavonoid Found in potato skins, it has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and antioxidant properties that protect the body's cells from free radical damage.
How to Include More Potatoes in Your Diet
Select potatoes that are smooth, and relatively smooth and round. Avoid potatoes that show any signs of rotting.
It's best to buy potatoes by weight and unwashed (premature washing removes the protective coating from the potato skin).
Optimal storage conditions for potatoes: air temperature +2 - +3 degrees and humidity 70–80%. If the room becomes warm in winter, the potatoes will “feel spring” and will sprout. When the temperature drops to zero, the starch contained in the tubers will turn into sugar. If the thermometer drops far below zero, the potatoes will simply freeze and spoil. It is better to store in a cellar or pantry. Exposure to sunlight can lead to the formation of solanine.
Potatoes should not be stored near onions because these vegetables produce gases that cause the vegetables to spoil.
Since most of the vitamins, minerals and fiber content are higher in the skin, it is best to consume potatoes with the skin on. Peel the potatoes under running water and remove any bruises or deep eyes. Use a stainless steel knife rather than a carbon one to prevent the metal from interacting with substances in the tuber that could cause discoloration.
Try some of these healthy and delicious recipes using potatoes:
- Potato salad ( Boil the potatoes, then cut into cubes and mix with eggs, celery, onions and mayonnaise).
- Homemade chips
- Stuffed peppers and mashed potatoes.
- Quick and easy Mexican minestrone
Possible health risks of potatoes
It is important not to eat potatoes that have sprouted or are green in color. These characteristics are indicators of the presence of solanine, a toxic compound that has been found to negatively affect circulatory and respiratory problems, as well as headaches, muscle cramps and diarrhea.
Research has shown that potatoes, when cooked above 120℃, produce a chemical known as acrylamide. This compound, which is found in plastics, glues, dyes and cigarette smoke, has been found to play a role in the development of some forms of cancer.
Acrylamide has neurotoxic effect, and may also have negative effects on genes and reproductive health. Fried potato products, such as potato chips and French fries, contain significant amounts of acrylamide, as well as fat and table salt, so it is best not to eat them.
Beta blocker medications, most commonly prescribed for cardiovascular diseases, can cause an increase in potassium concentrations in the blood. Foods high in potassium, such as potatoes should be consumed in moderation while taking beta blockers.
High levels of potassium in the body can pose a serious risk for people with kidney disease or kidney failure. Damaged kidneys are unable to filter excess potassium from the blood, which can be fatal. Eating a diet characterized by variety rather than focusing on single foods is the key to good health.
Potatoes are harmful due to high risk development of diabetes, general practitioners and family doctors warn that eating potatoes before pregnancy increases the risk of diabetes
Scientists initially thought that frequent consumption of potatoes meant that people were eating greasy fried potatoes, french fries... But a high risk of diabetes has been proven for all types of potato dishes.
High starch content is thought to be what causes diabetes, which is especially dangerous during pregnancy and can lead to fatigue, recurring infections and blurred vision. It also increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
Everyone has long been accustomed to such a product as potatoes; it firmly occupies the position of “second bread” and is present in every person. There are many recipes in which potatoes cannot be replaced with another product, which makes them valuable for housewives.
But girls who are on a diet often deny themselves the use of this product. These are, perhaps, all the arguments that were applied to potatoes, which is absolutely undeserved. In fact, simple potatoes are by no means simple, but very healthy and have many beneficial properties.
Potatoes contain many vitamins.
Not long ago, scientists began researching this product and proved that ordinary potatoes, to which everyone is so accustomed, contain a complex of useful vitamins and microelements. If we talk about vitamins, potatoes contain:
If you cook potatoes in this way, they will retain all the beneficial vitamins and minerals and will contain large amounts of vitamin C, which helps with the absorption of iron.
It is also beneficial for blood vessels, and, of course, has protective properties against infectious and viral diseases. Do not forget that this vitamin is a powerful antioxidant that prevents premature aging of the body.
Many have heard about the benefits of nuts and, due to the fact that they contain selenium, potatoes cooked in their skins are also rich in this microelement. This is a truly useful microelement that stimulates metabolic processes, strengthens the immune system, and has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the nervous system. This element is necessary for skin, hair and nails not only for growth, but also for a beautiful appearance.
Boiled
Boiled potatoes can cause quite a controversial opinion, and all for the reason that they have starch and everyone who watches their figure refuses this dish. But in defense of this cooking method, it can be noted that during the cooking process, most of the starch goes into the water.
One cannot underestimate the benefits of starch, which has a beneficial effect on skin, providing anti-inflammatory, enveloping and softening effects.
Raw
Anti-inflammatory processes can be activated by raw potatoes.
It’s worth mentioning right away about the benefits that the peel can bring; it is considered waste and is not given due attention.
This is completely wrong, since it contains a large amount of all the vitamins and minerals that the body needs so much. If you want to get all the beneficial substances from potatoes, you should eat them baked or cooked in their skins.
Also, raw potatoes can activate anti-inflammatory processes. It is often used as compresses in places of bruises and for dermatological diseases. If you drink the juice, it can relieve and help with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In what cases are potatoes contraindicated and can cause harm?
You should not overuse this product; in this case, too much does not mean good; a sufficient amount that will benefit the body is 200 to 300 grams per day. In cases of diet, you should refuse potatoes for dinner; at lunchtime they will only bring benefits.
Everyone knows when potatoes have a greenish color. This suggests that it contains a large amount of solanine and should be avoided. This substance is toxic and in large quantities can cause harm to the body.
It is worth limiting yourself in the consumption of French fries, since during the cooking process they practically lose their benefits, but acquire carcinogenic properties that will cause harm. And also fried potatoes should be avoided by those who have the following diseases:
- Liver;
- Stomach;
- With high cholesterol.
Contraindicated in any form for:
- Hypoacid gastritis;
In all cases, you need to observe moderation and remember that potatoes can bring benefits even in small quantities, and improper use can cause harm.
Folk use
Grated potatoes and olive oil will help with any damage.
There are quite a few recipes using potatoes that have medicinal qualities and can help in the recovery of a particular ailment.
But it is always worth remembering that any disease requires a doctor’s examination, diagnosis and proper treatment.
These recipes can be used as an auxiliary treatment and it would be correct to consult a doctor before use.
You can use raw potatoes, which have a beneficial effect on human skin. For any damage, possible wounds or burns, purulent pimples, boils, and dermatological diseases, compresses can be used.
You will need to grate the potatoes on a fine grater and add
Recently, due to increased public attention to the problem of excess weight, once-favorite dishes have become very unpopular - boiled, baked, fried potatoes, french fries, mashed potatoes with a piece of butter spreading on it, and even salads, and at the same time everything products invented from potatoes. With all this, it should be noted that one baked potato contains only 145 calories, and one cup of boiled potatoes contains even less - 114. And are potatoes, nicknamed the second bread in Rus', really so harmful?
So, for the almost violent introduction of this “damn apple” into our country, the use of which at first by superstitious people was declared a great sin, we must thank the great “revolutionary” Peter I. For later, it was this food product that many times in the history of Russia became the savior of its people from the most brutal wars , revolutions, cold and hunger.
And now, when we eat potatoes, we receive with it not only starch (80-85%), but also a wide range of substances necessary for life: these are natural fats, proteins, fiber, organic acids, including folic acid, vitamins C , B1, B2, B6, PP, carotene (this is provitamin A, which yellowish potato varieties are richest in), potassium, sodium, phosphorus salts, etc. Moreover, the content of these useful elements in one potato is such that, for example, citrus fruits and dust does not get into it.
It should also be borne in mind that freshly dug potatoes contain three times more vitamins than those that have been left until spring. That's why we traditionally love young potatoes.
The signature dish “jacket potatoes” is especially useful, one serving of which covers the body’s daily dose of vitamin C (some propagandists suggest eating potatoes directly with the peel, which is quite justified in the case of new potatoes).
It is also important to know that for maximum preservation of vitamin C, you should not peel the potatoes in advance and keep them in water. It is unwise to start cooking in cold water: it is better to put the tubers in boiling water for 20-25 minutes until the end of cooking.
Few people know that this entire plant - tubers, sprouts, stems, and flowers - has pronounced healing properties.
Let's start with flowers. Infused with vodka potato flowers They help great with radiculitis. During attacks, rub the tincture on painful areas and take it orally, 1 tablespoon 3 times a day.
For fibroids and mastopathy, drink an infusion of potato flowers: brew 1 teaspoon of dried flowers with a glass of boiling water, infuse and take 1/3 cup 3 times a day so that the pressure becomes normal. And for chronic hypertensive patients, this infusion is simply a salvation.
Why not say about fresh potato juice? Potato juice itself is potent and not harmless, and therefore in any case you should take it a little and consult a doctor. Juice from raw tubers is often recommended for gastritis with high acidity and constipation, and for gastric ulcers as a means of inhibiting the secretion of gastric glands and promoting healing of ulcers. Drink it 2-3 times a day half an hour before meals. Acetylcholine from fresh potato juice also lowers blood pressure in hypertension.
Grated raw potatoes, wrapped in gauze, applied to wounds for burns and eczema.
Potato dishes can be eaten by everyone, except those who are on an anti-carbohydrate diet or have diabetes. People being treated for pancreatitis are not prohibited from eating potatoes: the presence of vitamin C in them is very beneficial. The high potassium content in potatoes determines its mild diuretic properties.
I must say separately about baked potatoes. After all, if up to 50% of potassium is lost during its cooking, then only 3-6% of potassium is destroyed in baked or steamed potatoes. Baked potatoes are often recommended by cardiologists for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and those suffering from heart disease (half a baked potato per day is enough).
Boiled in their skins and mixed with sour cream, potatoes are useful as a mask for dry and sunburned skin. Hot potatoes boiled in their jackets are applied to frostbitten areas of the body.
And you potato broth(tubers) quickly soothes joint pain and accelerates the healing of bones during fractures.
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