The Nutritional Powerhouse: Exploring the Health Benefits of Potatoes

Potatoes are one of the most common and important food sources on the planet. The term potato can refer to either the plant or the entire tuber, which is rather shapeless and ugly, in most varieties. Potato contains a wealth of health benefits that make them all the more essential as a staple dietary item. Its scientific name is Solanum Tuberosum, and it is actually a member of the Nightshade family.

These health benefits include their ability to improve digestion, reduce cholesterol levels, boost heart health, protect from polyps, prevent cancer, manage diabetes, strengthen the immune system, reduce signs of aging, protect the skin, increase circulation, reduce blood pressure, maintain fluid balance, reduce insomnia, and boost eye health.

They were first cultivated somewhere between 7,000 and 10,000 years ago in that Central American and South American region and they are native to the Americas, most likely in the Andes, Peru, and Bolivia. they can be prepared in dozens of ways, including baked, fried, sliced, mashed, and many more.

Nutritional values of potatoes   

Nutrients:
Dietary Fiber - 10%
Protein - 5%
Carbohydrates - 5%
Calories - 3%

Vitamins:
Vitamin C - 19%
Vitamin B6 - 12%
Niacin - 5%
Folate - 4%

Minerals:

Manganese - 30%
Copper - 21%
Iron - 18%
Potassium - 12%

Starch Content:Potatoes contain about 17% starch and it is one of the best natural sources of starch. Potato sprouting leads to the conversion of starch into sugar, so you should avoid eating sprouted potatoes.

Note: Most of the nutrients in a potato are just beneath its skin. If you eat the skin along with the potato, you get all these nutrients, or else what you primarily end up eating is just carbohydrates!

Health Benefits of Potatoes

• Weight Gain
• Digestion
• Skin Care
• Scurvy
• Rheumatism
• Inflammation
• Cancer Prevention
• High Blood Pressure
• Brain Function
• Heart Diseases
• Kidney Stones
• Diarrhea
• Good treatments for
• Burns, bruises, sprains, skin problems
• Ulcers, effects of narcotics
•  Prostate cancer, uterine cancer
• Formation of cysts or tumors.

Tips to Reduce Loss of Potato Nutrients

Here are some tips that will help you in reducing the loss of potato nutrients:

• Avoid peeling the potatoes before cooking them.
• When you boil potatoes, first heat the water to its boiling point and then add the potatoes. This will reduce the cooking time and help you maintain the Vitamin C content.
• Minimize frying of potatoes, as 75% of Vitamin C is lost during frying.