Useful properties of potatoes
Potatoes are not only used for cooking delicious dishes, but also widely used in folk medicine. It in different types has been successfully used in combating a number of ailments. Potato juice heals gastritis, biliary dyskinesia, peptic ulcer. Baked potatoes are shown in heart failure, high blood pressure, for General cleansing of the body, normalization of the thyroid gland.
The potato contains many healthy substances, namely:
- vitamins b, PP, C, E, K, B2, B6, B3;
- amino acids;
folic acid;
- carotenoids;
- potassium;
- phosphorus;
magnesium;
- iron;
- zinc;
- boron, etc.
And such an essential and useful element like vitamin C contained in potatoes in even greater numbers than in the cabbage and cranberries. It is thanks to the vitamin C the body cope with colds, viral diseases, increases immunity. All b vitamins have a beneficial effect on the nervous system. Vitamin K is involved in the fight against atherosclerosis, strengthens the walls of blood vessels. And vitamin E involved in the regeneration of cells.
Micronutrients – zinc, boron, magnesium, helps to restore the nervous system, potassium is the best assistant in the functioning of the cardiovascular system, folic acid helps improve metabolism, support the thyroid gland.
In any case, you cannot use greenish potatoes because they contain harmful substance – solanine, as well as a large amount of nitrates.
In what form it is better to eat potatoes?
But few know about the health properties of potatoes. It should be even and properly cooked. In what form to use to get the maximum benefit?
Of course, the most useful potato – baked. In this type of cooking retains all the vitamins and nutrients. It is better to bake the potatoes in their skins, wrapped in foil.
Following the method of preparation, also not burdensome - boiling potatoes in their skins. Vitamins, it remains less than with baking, but potassium and fiber still a lot.
The third method is to boil the peeled potatoes. But it should be done correctly: in boiling water, drop the peeled tubers and bring to a boil and cook over medium heat, add salt for five minutes until tender. This vegetable is less mushy and will retain the greatest amount of nutrients. The ideal option is to cook the potatoes for a couple.
It is believed that potatoes are fattening. But despite the high content of starch, potato has low calories, and if you do not combine it with butter and meat (from these products people gaining weight), can not be afraid for the piece.
You can still do mashed potatoes, is also a useful option, especially for those who suffer from disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Of course, the puree should not be too thick, dilute it should not milk, and potato broth.
You can also prepare French fries, but that the course was less harmful, shredded tubers you need to sprinkle unrefined vegetable oil and bake in the oven.
Fried potatoes, delicious whatever it may be, contains a minimum amount of vitamins and minerals, but saturated fats. Therefore, we cannot say that it is a useful product. And, of course, should not eat potato chips. Because in addition to fat, they contain excessive amounts of salt, flavorings and carcinogens.
Regardless of the method of cooking potatoes – healthy, rich in vitamins and trace elements vegetable, which is unthinkable without cooking. It is therefore safe to say that the potato is an extremely useful product.
