There is this misconception that potatoes are unhealthy and are bound to worsen conditions such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia. However, the fact is that the poor potato is not to blame. Unfortunately, most of the dishes prepared using potatoes are fried or fatty, which quite obviously makes them bad for health and earns our beloved vegetable, whose botanical name is Solanum tuberosum, a bad reputation.
Potatoes are relished by both the rich as well as the poor equally. An inexpensive vegetable that is readily available throughout the year, potatoes can be boiled, baked, shallow or deep fried, barbecued, or roasted. Irrespective of the mode of preparation, there is no doubt that this bland vegetable takes up the flavor and taste of practically any spice or vegetable that is added to it, thereby offering a gustatory treat.
While a majority of us unconsciously depend upon potatoes as a comfort food, only a few of us realize that it would make more sense to binge on healthier preparations of the vegetable rather than binging on chips, fries, cutlets, and the kind that are loaded with fat and salt, both of which are known to play havoc with the digestive as well as the cardiovascular systems. For those who do not know, the potato is not a fruit of a plant. It is an underground stem, which is also referred to as a tuber. The fruit of the potato plant is not edible.
When potatoes are washed clean and cooked with their skin, either by boiling or baking, their nutritive value is the highest. Low in calories and rich in fiber, this vegetable can help to prevent heart disease as well as certain forms of cancer. Potatoes are not only a good source of vitamin B6 and vitamin C, but also contain important minerals like potassium, copper, and manganese, in decent amounts.
The flavonoids and carotenoids present in potatoes are responsible for the antioxidant effects of this vegetable. These protect the tissues against damage by free radicals, thereby preventing early degenerative changes in them. Since potatoes are underground stems, they are more likely to get affected by the soil and water that is used for their growth. Organically grown potatoes are the safest and healthiest, whereas those exposed to sewage or water containing industrial wastes can prove to be toxic to the body in the long run.
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Tags: Antioxidant effects, Baked, Barbecued, Boiled, Carotenoids, Chips, Cutlets, Diabetes mellitus, Flavonoids, Free radicals, Fried, Fries, Hypercholesterolemia, Hypertension, Industrial waste, Obesity, Organically grown, Potatoes, Roasted, Sewage, Solanum tuberosum, Toxic, Tuber, Underground stem
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