Health Benefits of Potato and Nutritional Value of Potato is immense. Following is the complete detail:
Origin:
Potato is a vegetable that belongs to the Solanaceae family in which tomatoes, eggplants, peppers are also part of this family. 8000 years ago, in the highlands of the Peruvian Andes mountains in South Africa potato originated. In America, around 200 species of potato are found. Due to a long list of Health Benefits of Potato and Nutritional Value of Potato, it is widely cultivated all around the world. It is the world’s fourth-largest crop, being next to rice, wheat, and maize. The potato was initially cultivated in 8,000 BC to 5,000 BC by Inca Indians in Peru.
Potato becomes the ancient and the most favorite food and they also started to worship potatoes and even buried them with their dead. Ancient Inca called potatoes “papas”. At some later time, European agriculturists found that the Health Benefits of Potato are numerous. They have all vitamins needed for nourishment and also were very easier to cultivate, more likely wheat and oats. Russian Federation, Poland, India, China, and the United States all are the main producers of potatoes.
Potato is an underground grown stem called a tuber. Tuber’s work is to supply food to green leafy which is the segment of the plant. Potato is a very common and well-known source of food and usually can find them easily in nearly market or stores. Potatoes can be easily baked, roasted, or mashed. Potato has a massive quantity of starch in it. Potatoes are also packed with Vitamin A, B, C, E, and H. It also contains other components like calcium, protein, iron, potassium, magnesium, chlorine, sodium, iodine, copper, and phosphorus. And because of fried chips, potato is the most desired vegetable for all kids and even elders. There is a maximum of 100 types of potatoes in the world, all are different in shapes and colors.
Following is the list of Health Benefits of Potato and Nutritional Value of Potato:
Nutritional Facts Of Potato:
Potato is a great source of Vitamin B6 and also a good source of potassium, copper, vitamin C, manganese, phosphorus, niacin, dietary fiber, and pantothenic acid. It also performs as an antioxidant activity as it contains a variety of phytonutrients. An average-sized potato contains the following ingredients:
- Above 600 mg/ 18% of daily recommended value of potassium
- About 45% of DV Vitamin C
- Provides around 2 gm/8% of daily value of Fiber
- Potato provides Vitamin B6, 10 % of of daily value
- It provides 6% of DV Iron
- Potassium provides 30 mg / 1% of DV Sodium.
Health Benefits Of Potatoes:
1- Lowering Blood Pressure
Researchers at the Institute of Food Research, UK found that potato is very good at lowering down blood pressure. Potato contain compound namely KUKOAMINES that fight against blood pressure disease. Potato is very rich in potassium and potassium helps to prevent blood pressure. So if you want to lower your blood pressure eat baked potato because it contains both magnesium and potassium. Both are very good for heart health. When potassium gets low, Sodium takes part and our body soak more sodium in this case foods that are rich in potassium are a good option because it makes the body more adequate and helps to get rid of enough sodium. And mostly purple potato is very good for blood pressure prevention.
2- Potato For Healthy Bones:
Everything we eat each day plays a very important role in building our bone health. Fruits and vegetables high in calcium, Vitamins, and other nutrients are good choices for healthy bones and for entire health. Potato has all the nutrients and minerals that maintain the bone structure of our body. In the production and growth of Collagen, iron, and zinc both minerals play a vital role. A proper and balanced intake of phosphorus and calcium can make your bone structure healthy and give them strength. But in the case of less calcium intake excess consumption of phosphorus can make you lose bone mass. That’s why both minerals should be equal because these minerals are essential for appropriate bone mineralization.
3- Potato for Heart Health:
Potato is also very good for heart health as it is a combination of fiber, potassium, Vitamin C, and Vitamin B-6 content. Fiber lowers the cholesterol rate in the blood which reduces the threat of heart disease. According to the study, people who take 4070 mg amount of potassium daily have a lower rate of death by heart attack disease called ischemic heart disease. Usually, sweet potatoes are rich in Vitamin B-6 which plays a crucial role in breaking down the homocysteine. Excessive amount of homocysteine can harden your blood vessels and arteries. And in a result, it damages the blood vessels and causes heart problems.
4- Inflammation:
In the case of Inflammation, potatoes are a very good option. Potatoes are a good source of Vitamin C that works as an antioxidant that helps in repairing the tissue. Potassium and vitamin B-6 can repair any type of inflammation that occurs in the intestine and digestive system. For those who have mouth ulcers, potatoes are very good. Choline is also another cure for inflammation. In potatoes, choline is a very useful nutrient that helps in several ways such as in sleeping, muscle movement, learning, and memory. Choline helps to preserve the structure of cellular membranes. It also gives support the transfer of nerves impulses. It reduces the cause of inflammation, which helps in the absorption of fat.
5- Cancer:
It also stops the formation of cancer cells during the mutation in the DNA. The fiber in potatoes also helps in preventing cancer as it lowers the chances of colorectal cancer. Potato contains some crucial compounds namely quercetin, which acts as an anti-cancer as well as anti-tumor. Vitamin A and C also reduce the effect of cancer and worked as antioxidants and save your body from the destructive reaction of cancer. Flavonoid antioxidants and vitamin A like zeaxanthin and carotenes can help in the fight against many types of cancer.
6- Potato For Healthy digestive System:
Due to their softness potato is said to be good digestive food. Sweet potato is rich in dietary fiber, which maintains the healthy digestive system and prevents constipation and also from a serious disorder like colorectal cancer. Potato contains essential carbohydrates and they are easy to digest and assist digestion. Potatoes are good for those people who cannot digest hard food. Especially for babies potatoes are good as they are soft and energetic too. But eating potatoes on regular basis can cause acidity.
7- Potato For Healthy Skin
As we know potato is full of vitamins like A, B, C, and nutrients like potassium, magnesium, zinc, and phosphorus they all are very good for skin care agents. Even the water in which potatoes are washed is very useful, as they work as a facial cleanser and clean all the dark spots on your face. Vitamin C and E are also very beneficial for skincare. They provide healthy, glowing, and clean skin. For example, the pulp of mashed raw potatoes, mixed with honey can encourage well skin and help in cleaning the spots and pimples on the face. Potato is said to be a natural anti-aging beauty agent and removing all the wrinkles from your face even removes dead skin cells on the face and keeps your skin glowing forever. Insulin Plant also helps to improve skin health.
8- Potato For Healthy Brain:
The brain needs a supply of glucose, oxygen, and other components of the vitamin-B complex, for proper functioning. All these elements are naturally found in potatoes. As we know that potato is rich in carbohydrates, which helps in maintaining the glucose level in the blood. And if the glucose level in the blood is appropriate brain performs its functions properly and it prevents from letting weakness sneak into your brain. Secondly, the brain also needs oxygen to work properly, hemoglobin presents blood cells convey this oxygen to the brain. Iron is the main component of potato which helps blood to deliver iron to the brain. Potato contains Vitamin-B complex and amino acid too which keep the brain nervous system active.
