The benefits and harms of potatoes for the human body

Potatoes are, without a doubt, one of the most popular and revered vegetables on the table. An incredibly large number of dishes are prepared from it and with its participation. Quite naturally, the benefits and harms of potatoes have been studied for many years by specialists, both from traditional and traditional medicine, and by nutritionists.

Useful properties of potatoes

1. A great benefit of potatoes lies in their incredible nutritional value. This root vegetable is very rich in carbohydrates, the main of which is starch.
2. Also, potatoes contain a lot of proteins and mineral salts, and there are almost all amino acids in it that are generally present in plant foods.
3. Potatoes contain a significant amount of vitamins C and P. The benefits of potatoes are that in just three hundred grams of it, the daily dose of these vitamins for the human body is provided. At the same time, studies show that daily consumption of potatoes is also a prevention against scurvy.
4. Doctors say that the benefits of potatoes are that it is an excellent product in the treatment of various diseases. Many potato dishes are classified as dietary and are prescribed for diseases such as gastritis, diabetes mellitus, arthritis and disorders and disorders of the digestive system.
5. It is known that the benefits of potatoes lie in the presence of a large amount of fiber in its composition. Fiber improves the functioning of the human digestive system and promotes the active removal of a variety of toxins from the body. In addition, fiber plays a very important role in the prevention of diseases of the stomach, intestines and other components of the digestive system.
6. Potatoes are good for people with cardiovascular diseases. The benefits of potatoes lie in the considerable content of such a trace element as potassium, due to its effect on the work of the heart. At the same time, it is recommended to eat potatoes more in a baked form, since more potassium is stored in it and, it can help lower blood pressure.
7. It is also argued that the benefits of potatoes are also in their skins, from which the tubers are usually peeled and then thrown away. And an interesting fact is that the peel is no less rich in vitamin and mineral composition. There are studies confirming that the peel contains substances that can increase potency.
8. Traditional healers believe that the benefits of raw potatoes lie in the ability to use them to treat affected skin areas. Raw potatoes are applied to them to get rid of eczema and burns.
9. Also, the benefits of potatoes have been found in potato juice. It is a powerful agent for activating anti-inflammatory processes in the body. Moreover, not so long ago, studies have shown that potato juice is beneficial for the fight against cancer.
10. For the treatment of colds, inhalation is used over hot steam from boiled potatoes. To do this, boil the potatoes with their skins, drain the water and breathe over the steam.
11. In cosmetology, masks from potatoes are used to relieve swelling on the face. Potato juice is used as one of the treatments for hair loss on the temples.

Potato harm

However, no matter how useful this beloved root vegetable is, nevertheless, the harm of potatoes can also affect.

1. The fact is that when storing potatoes, a rather strong poison “solanine” gradually accumulates under its skin. This substance is considered the strongest teratogen that can cause, for example, fetal malformations. That is why pregnant women are advised to eat potatoes with extreme caution. Moreover, in winter, when it is stored for a long time, it is recommended to peel off the peel layer as thick as possible.
2. Try not to eat a lot of fried potatoes (fries, country style), as well as chips. Not only are these very high-calorie dishes, but they are also saturated with carcinogens.
3. Due to the high content of starch in potatoes, iodine is not absorbed in the body at all. Therefore, the thyroid gland begins to suffer, diseases develop on this basis (hypothyroidism, oncological diseases) .Starch itself is not absorbed in the human body. If there are not enough biologically active substances in the body that are necessary for the assimilation of starch, then it can accumulate, decompose in the stomach, causing disorders, clog the capillary network. In addition, gluten, formed by combining starch and water, envelops the duodenum and small intestine. This, in turn, leads to poor absorption of vitamins and minerals.
4. Quite high calorie content – almost 2-3 times higher than that of other vegetables, since potatoes have a high carbohydrate content. Therefore, people inclined to be overweight should limit their addiction to potatoes.

The chemical composition of the vegetable

Nutritional value of potatoes (100 g) and percentage of daily value:

You can also find information on how to choose the right potatoes.

Video: nutritionist expert opinion on potatoes

Doctor of Medical Sciences, Honored Doctor of Ukraine, Professor of the Department of Gastroenterology, Dietetics and Endoscopy of N.M. P.L. Shupika Galina Anatolyevna Anokhina.

Questions and Answers

• What is the best way to cook potatoes to maintain their nutritional value? – It is best to cook potatoes without adding water to them. The fact is that some vitamins contained in the product tend to dissolve in water.
• Which potato variety is healthier for the body? – Nutritionists advise to give preference to varieties with reddish tubers. They are recommended to be cooked in the oven – oven, without peeling.
• Where can potato peelings be used? –  Gardeners – gardeners believe that potato peelings are the best fertilizing and fertilizing for plants.
• How to choose potatoes? – The best potatoes have a medium size, smooth skin and a round, regular shape. Read more about this in the article “How to choose the right potato”.
• Is potato juice good for you? – There are no scientific works on this topic. But in folk medicine, potato juice is successfully used: as a protection of the gastrointestinal tract (due to its enveloping properties), the effect on water metabolism – getting rid of excess fluid and eliminating puffiness, relieving heartburn.

Special issue “Live Food” about potatoes:

Conclusion.

Potatoes, like any vegetable, contain a lot of vitamins, minerals, trace elements, fiber. But, in fact, as for most products, the benefits and harms of potatoes are much more dependent on the storage and proper preparation of this product. And, of course, everything requires moderation and discretion.