Is it Good to Eat Potato?

Potato is a tuber food which belongs to the nightshade family and is a very nutritional food item. Lets read more about the nutrition factors of Potato.

Potato is one of the most popular vegetables consumed by the entire world.  

HEALTH BENEFITS OF POTATO

This article highlights you about the 5 important health benefits of potato.

1. A packet of Nutritions. 

Potato contains a lot of nutrients which helps for the growth and development of your body. 
Let’s take a closer look at the nutrition factors of Potato

According to the US Foods and Drug Administration reports. 

1 medium-size potato weight (0.3oz/148g) contains 

Total calories 110

Fat 0

Cholesterol 0

Sodium 8mg

Protein 3g

Fiber 2g

Calcium 2%

Iron 6%

Vitamin C 45%

Carbohydrates 9%

Antioxidants

2. Lowers the blood pressure

Potato is rich in potassium. Potassium helps to maintain blood pressure, improve the circulatory system and manage heart health. Potato contains zero fat and cholesterol which also helps you to maintain the overweight of the body.  

3. Improves Bone health

Potato contains Calcium, Iron and Potassium which provides strength to the bone. 
It helps to prevent bones from diseases such as osteoporosis. 

4. Treat chronic diseases 

Potato contains antioxidants. Antioxidants help to reduce the free radicals in the body which helps to prevent and cure the body of chronic disease, cancer and diabetes.

5. Reduces Inflammation 

Potatoes are rich in starch. The starch takes a little more time to digest. So the starch-rich food stays into the large intestine for a longer period and this undigested starch becomes food for the gut bacteria. These gut bacteria help to reduce the process of inflammation in the large intestine and help to prevent inflammatory bowel disease, Ulcerative colitis, Colon diverticulum and Colon cancer. 

HOW TO EAT POTATO AND HOW GOOD IT IS?

This starchy Potato having lots of nutrition is usually consumed either grilled, roasted, fried or as stuffing. 

Eating potato is good but we should cook it properly otherwise, it can lead to many health hazards. 
Victoria Jarzabkowski, a nutritionist with the Fitness Institute of Texas at The University of Texas at Austin says potatoes aren’t necessarily bad for you. When cooked the right way without heaps of butter, cheese or cream they can even be good for you. 

A 2012 study published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry found that six to eight small purple potatoes twice a day helped lower blood pressure and risk of heart disease and stroke among people who were overweight and suffering from hypertension. Despite the carbohydrates in purple potatoes, the participants did not gain weight.

IMPORTANT POINTS

Eating potato is good as it is full of nutrition but choose potato wisely.

1. The potato should look healthy.

Pick the healthy-looking potato.  The eye buds or sprouting or greenish discolouration potato contain solanine. Solanine is a compound which can cause several health issues regarding the respiratory or circulatory system. It may also cause diarrhoea and muscle cramps, etc. 

2. Fry the potato on optimum temperature.  If you fry potato over a 100-degree Celsius, it releases a compound known as acrylamide. Acrylamide found in plastics. French fries are the most popular deep-fried food.  It has acrylamide which can cause nerve damage and cancer. 

IS POTATO ALLERGIC? 

 Yes!  Potato can be allergic. Potato contains Glycoalkaloids. These Glycoalkaloids are useful for plants as they fight pathogens and pests, but this Glycoalkaloids can trigger the immune response of the human body.
Certain white blood cells and mast cells release histamine together with compounds such as IgE antibody are dispatched to protect the body from this intruder protein. 

People allergic to potatoes may experience running nose, red eyes, itchy skin, hives, eczema-like rashes, nausea, vomiting, bloating, cramps in Stomach and severe diarrhoea.

Read more health-related articles to stay healthy and fit.