How useful and harmful is potato for the human body?

Biochemical composition of the vegetable

The popularity of potatoes is due to the unique biochemical composition. The vegetable contains vitamins B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B9, C, E and K. The composition of root crops contains malic, citric, coffee, oxalic and other organic acids. Roots rich in potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, zinc, iron and other trace elements have a beneficial effect on humans and their bodies.

However, few people know that the biochemical composition of potatoes can change. Roots under the influence of active sunlight begin to actively produce solanine and chlorophyll. The presence of solanine and chlorophyll in the human body is a serious threat to life.

Potatoes grown in an ecologically unfavorable region do not bode well. Such root crops contain chemical compounds dangerous to humans. Therefore, when buying a vegetable, it is worth asking about the region and the conditions for its cultivation.

Nutritional value of potatoes

The nutritional value of the root vegetable is 77 kcal per 100 g of product. Contrary to the beliefs of some supporters of healthy lifestyle, potatoes are recommended as a dietary food. The amount of saturated fat is only 0.03 g, polyunsaturated - 0.04 g. Monounsaturated fats are completely absent.

100 g of the product contains 1.8 g of fiber, 0.9 g of sugar, 1.9 g of protein and 20.1 g of carbohydrates. Potato tubers are 77–78% water.

Video "The benefits and harms of potatoes for humans"

This video discusses the main beneficial properties and contraindications to the use of root crops.

The benefits of potatoes for the human body

Mealy carbohydrate starch, which is part of potatoes, is considered one of the best sources of energy for mental and physical human performance. Starch lowers the concentration of cholesterol in the blood, minimizing the likelihood of developing sclerosis of the vascular walls.

Can I give potatoes to children? This question worries many parents. A vegetable rich in vitamins and minerals must be present in the children's diet in reasonable quantities. Allowed the use of mono-dishes (for example, boiled potatoes in their uniforms) or in combination with other vegetables.

Fresh juice

Fresh potato juice is recommended for the prevention and treatment of many body dysfunctions:

• restoration of the normalization of the digestive system;
• decrease in the acidity of gastric juice;
• lowering blood pressure;
• prompt relief of acute and prolonged migraine attacks;
• normalization of sleep;
• restoration of hormonal levels.

Regular intake of freshly squeezed juice prevents the development of pathologies and inflammations of the female reproductive system. You need to take a drink 2 times a day, 0.5 tbsp. l. half an hour before meals. The duration of the course is up to 14 days.

Raw tubers

Eating raw potatoes helps to strengthen the immune system, normalize metabolic processes, relieve chronic fatigue and apathy. Also, the product is recommended for high risks of developing atherosclerosis and inflammatory processes of the musculoskeletal system.

The daily consumption rate is 100 g of raw vegetable grated on a grater. Can be mixed with crushed apple.

Heat treated vegetable

The benefits of a heat-treated vegetable depend on how it is cooked. Baked and fried potatoes contain a minimum amount of nutrients. All useful compounds decompose under the influence of high temperature conditions.

If we talk about the benefits of thermally processed root vegetables, then it is worth mentioning boiled potatoes. Root vegetables retain their nutritional value during cooking. A high concentration of vitamins and minerals is found in the top layer of boiled tubers. Younger roots are healthier.

Scope of application of potatoes

Potatoes are not limited to the kitchen. Root crops are also used in folk medicine and cosmetology.

In cooking

The most popular vegetable in cooking is potatoes. Root vegetables are actively used for preparing first and main courses, appetizers and salads, gratins and casseroles, digestifs and even desserts. As it turned out, you can make pancakes, waffles, pancakes, sweets, biscuits and strudel from potatoes.

In dietetics

People on a diet can eat raw and boiled potatoes. The amount of vegetables in the diet is strictly limited. A potato diet will help you to effectively lose weight without negative consequences for the body. For 7 days, it is recommended to use a vegetable boiled without salt.

In cosmetology

Potatoes rich in starch are indispensable in modern cosmetology. The vegetable is actively used for the manufacture of face and body masks, shampoos, hair rinses.

Potato starch is in no way inferior to the now popular dry shampoos. Slices of raw root vegetable will relieve dark circles under the eyes. Gruel from a grated vegetable helps to remove calluses and corns.

A mixture of starch, flour and lemon juice will help to restore the velvety and elasticity of the skin of the hands.

In folk medicine

There is hardly a person who, in childhood, was not forced to breathe over a steam of potatoes at the first sign of a cold or bronchitis. Today, these manipulations can be replaced with an inhaler. But the value of potatoes in folk medicine has not diminished.

With uterine fibroids, it is recommended to drink freshly squeezed juice from pink potato varieties. The daily rate is 250 ml on an empty stomach. The duration of treatment is 6 months. After 4 months, the course of treatment is repeated.

The following folk recipe will help get rid of mental and physical fatigue. Boil the potatoes in their skins. Drain the water into a container convenient for further use, cool and take 250 ml 1 time every 2 days.

Possible harm and contraindications for use

As it turns out, not all root vegetables are good for your health.

Allergies and individual intolerance

Potatoes are contraindicated in case of a tendency to allergic reactions and individual intolerance. People who are allergic to patanin are at risk.

An allergic reaction to potatoes is a rare occurrence. But if you have a history of food allergies, you need to be careful when choosing food.

Glycoalkaloids and Acrylamides

The crops of the Solanaceae family contain glycoalkaloids, which are popularly called potato toxins. An excess of the substance in the body can lead to indigestion, nausea, vomiting, and occasional headache. In more serious cases, there is a rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, low blood pressure, and chills. Failure to provide emergency medical care may result in death.

Acrylamides are chemicals produced by frying or baking root vegetables. Acrylamides have the ability to accumulate in the human body, which is fraught with the development of cancer. For this reason, it is better to exclude fried potatoes, beloved by many, from the diet.

French fries and potato chips

Remember, there are no health benefits in french fries and chips! Consuming these products is unsafe for your health. The composition contains glycoalkaloids, acrylamides, salts and other components dangerous to the human body.

Potatoes, as one of the most popular root vegetables in the human diet, have many positive qualities. With regular, but moderate and correct use, the vegetable does not pose a danger to human health.