Potatoes are one of those foods, along with grains, that are available and consumed almost daily. It is used as an independent product, as well as an integral component of dishes. Baked, boiled, stuffed, fried, fried potatoes - the list goes on. But this vegetable is not only tasty, it has an abundance of medicinal properties.
Useful properties of potatoes
Potatoes not only serve to prepare delicious dishes, but are also widely used in folk medicine. It is successfully used in various forms in the fight against a number of ailments. Potato juice treats gastritis, biliary dyskinesia, stomach ulcer. Baked potatoes are indicated for heart failure, high blood pressure, for general cleansing of the body, and normalization of the thyroid gland.
Potatoes contain many health benefits, including:
- vitamins B, PP, C, E, K, B2, B6, B3;
- amino acids;
- folic acid;
- carotenoids;
- potassium;
- phosphorus;
- magnesium;
- iron;
- zinc;
- boron, etc.
And such an irreplaceable and useful element as vitamin C is contained in potatoes even in greater quantities than in cabbage and cranberries. It is thanks to vitamin C that the body copes with colds, viral diseases, and immunity increases. All B vitamins have a beneficial effect on the state of the nervous system. Vitamin K is involved in the fight against atherosclerosis, strengthens the walls of blood vessels. And vitamin E is involved in cell repair.
Trace elements - zinc, boron, magnesium, help to restore the nervous system, potassium is the best assistant in the functioning of the cardiovascular system, folic acid helps to improve metabolism, supports the thyroid gland.
In no case should you use green tubers, because they contain a harmful substance - solanine, as well as a large amount of nitrates.
What is the best way to eat potatoes?
But it is not enough to know about the beneficial properties of potatoes. It must also be properly prepared. How to use it to get the most benefit?
Of course, baked potatoes are the healthiest ones. With this type of preparation, all vitamins and nutrients are preserved. Better to bake potatoes in their skins, wrapped in foil.
The next cooking method, which is also not burdensome, is to boil potatoes in their uniforms. It retains less vitamins than when baked, but there is still a lot of potassium and fiber.
The third way is to boil peeled potatoes. But this must be done correctly: lower the peeled tubers into boiling water and, bringing to a boil, cook over medium heat, salt for five minutes until cooked. At the same time, this vegetable will boil down less and retain the greatest amount of nutrients. The ideal option is to steam the potatoes.
It is believed that potatoes make you fat. But, despite the high starch content, potatoes have a low calorie content, and if you do not combine it with butter and meat (a person gains weight from these products), you can not fear for your figure.
You can also make mashed potatoes, which is also a useful option, especially for those who suffer from gastrointestinal tract disorders. Of course, the mashed potatoes should not be too thick, and you need to dilute it not with milk, but with potato broth.
You can also cook french fries, but to make the dish less harmful, the tubers cut into strips should be sprinkled with unrefined vegetable oil and baked in the oven until tender.
Fried potatoes, no matter how tasty they are, contain a minimum amount of vitamins and minerals, but they are saturated with fats. Therefore, it cannot be said that this is a useful product. And, of course, you shouldn't eat potatoes in the form of chips. Indeed, in addition to fat, they contain an exorbitant amount of salt, flavorings and carcinogens.
Regardless of the method of preparation, potatoes are a healthy vegetable rich in vitamins and microelements, without which cooking is unthinkable. Therefore, we can say with confidence that potatoes are an extremely healthy product.
