Useful properties of potatoes!

Useful properties of potatoes!

Potatoes are a starchy vegetable from the Solanaceae family. The underground part of the plant, which is called the tuber, is used for food. Potatoes are the fourth most popular food crop in the world. Its fame is second only to rice, wheat and corn.



Kinds



To date, there are more than 3000 varieties of potatoes, which are divided into the following varieties:



Table potatoes. This type is used for cooking a variety of dishes. Tubers have excellent taste characteristics, contain no more than 20% starch, a large amount of vitamin C, beta-carotene and other trace elements that have a beneficial effect on the human body.

Technical potatoes. This variety is not used for food. Starch and alcohol are made from technical potatoes. It contains up to 16% starch and a large amount of protein.

Feed the potatoes. It is used for making pet food. Such feeds contribute to the rapid growth of livestock due to the content of a large amount of starch and protein.

The versatile potato. It is used both for food consumption and on an industrial scale. Such potatoes contain 16-18% starch, a large amount of vitamins, macro - and microelements.



Composition and caloric content

Potatoes contain a huge amount of nutrients in their composition. For 100 g of this unique food product, there are:



0.08 mg of thiamine.

0.03 mg of riboflavin.

1.1 mg of niacin.

0.24 mg of pyridoxine.

16.5 mcg of folacin.

11 mg of ascorbic acid.

2.1 mcg of vitamin K.

11 mg of calcium.

0.7 mg of iron.

22 mg of magnesium.

59 mg of phosphorus.

426 mg of potassium.

6 mg of sodium.

13 mg of choline.

0.4 mcg of selenium.

100 grams of fresh potatoes contain 73 calories.



Chemical composition of potatoes



Potatoes are a unique product for the body. The tuber contains a complex carbohydrate starch, which is needed for the subsequent growth of Solanum tuberosum. Starch serves as a reserve nutrient for the plant and benefits the person by feeding the body with energy.



The starch content in potatoes is 15/100g of the product. Vitamins are present in potatoes, but their % content is quite low. The same can be said about minerals that are contained in "trace amounts". For example, if a lemon contains 53 mg/100g of vitamin C, then a potato contains 19.7 mg/100g of it.If an orange contains 40 mg/100g of calcium, then our potatoes lose again: it contains 12 mg/100g of calcium.

What does a tuber consist of? In its composition:



B vitamins (most of all – B6), C, E, K, PP, H;

minerals magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, selenium, iodine, fluorine and 1/3 of the periodic table.

It will not save you from beriberi, it will not strengthen your bones. But even small concentrations of the necessary substances benefit the body. BZHU per 100 g of product looks like this:



protein – 2.1 g;

fat – 0.4 g;

carbohydrates – 17.7 g (16.3 g of starch+1.4 g of dietary fiber). The

tuber consists of 80% water and 20% dry matter, which includes all the above components.



The benefits of potatoes



Useful properties of potatoes are associated with its nutritional value and the presence of a vitamin and mineral complex. And although the benefits of vitamins and minerals are not so significant because of their low content, but they partially fill the needs of the body. This product is in demand for



Weight gain or the consumption of a large amount of energy. Carbohydrate starch breaks down in the body into glucose and fructose, maintaining the balance of energy and plastic metabolism in the body. Removes excess salt and fluid from the body.



The digestive tract works. A viscous puree or fiber in the form of fine fibers improves peristalsis and digestion, helping to free the intestines from unnecessary decay products in time.



Skin that has a pale or dull appearance. Potato mash is applied in the form of a mask on the face. It "works" at the expense of minerals, exfoliating the skin, removing redness and dark spots.



Partial removal of vitamin C deficiency, which saves from scurvy and increases the body's immunity.



Joints and muscles when inflammation occurs. Potatoes contain calcium and magnesium, which help in the treatment of rheumatism. Thanks to antioxidants, it is able to regenerate damaged tissues.



Lowering blood pressure



The brain works, which needs a significant supply of glucose. 70% of the incoming carbohydrates are consumed in the brain tissue.



Improves hematopoiesis and increases the level of hemoglobin in the blood, as the composition contains iron.



The benefits of potatoes for the body of people with a slight excess weight are not excluded. Despite the caloric content, it is included in the diet menu. It simultaneously saturates the body with energy, and removes slags with toxic substances.



With the right combination of products, potatoes will benefit the health of our body and lead to the loss of centimeters in the waist area. It is useful if you eat it, combined with vegetables or low-fat fish. It benefits the body in baked form.



Potatoes in cosmetology



Potatoes are widely used in cosmetology and help to preserve the beauty and youth of the skin. In addition, home cosmetics, which include this root vegetable, will help to improve the condition of the hair, return it to the lost shine and beauty.



For the face



Potato masks have a beneficial effect on the skin of the face. They saturate the skin with a large amount of nutrients, perfectly moisturize, whiten, have anti-aging, anti-inflammatory properties and have no contraindications.



There are many effective home remedies that include potatoes, but the most popular are the following.