Among the acids are organic, which are of great benefit to the human body: malic and citric, oxalic and tartaric, palmitic and chlorogenic, as well as linoleic, which is known for not being found in the animal body. Almost all the substances in potatoes are easily absorbed by the body, which helps to maintain the balance of all chemicals in the blood.
All the above data on useful substances are contained in raw potatoes, while it is understood that the root crop is in an unpeeled form. After heat treatment, unfortunately, a huge part of microelements and vitamins is destroyed.
calories
100 grams of potatoes contain approximately 80 kcal. Nutrients in the root crop are distributed as follows: proteins - 1.9 g, fats - 0.1 g, carbohydrates - about 17 g (including starch - 14 g), water - 80 g.
If we compare the energy value of potatoes with other vegetables, then 100-120 g of potatoes \u003d 300 g of carrots or 1 kg of cucumbers.
Beneficial features
Potato consists of a huge "arsenal" of valuable trace elements and other useful substances: vitamins, organic acids, and therefore the root crop has long been used in various industries, in particular, medicine. Let's find out exactly how everyone's favorite potato can help in the treatment of a variety of diseases.
Application in medicine
Traditional medicine says that potatoes help with many ailments, while recipes for preparing medicines are based on its various components: pulp, starch or potato juice.
Juice, potato decoction
Thanks to potato juice, gastritis and stomach ulcers can be cured. The juice gives a healing effect, so it can also be used in the treatment of wounds and abrasions, pustules and inflammation of the skin.
If you mix the juices of carrots, celery and potatoes, then with such a mixture you can treat goiter and disorders of the nervous system.
As for the decoction, it is good for deposition of salts, relieving pain in the joints, and is also used for splicing bones. With hypertension and arthritis, it is useful to drink potato broth a couple of times a day on an empty stomach.
raw pulp
What is useful raw potato pulp? Here are just some of its useful properties:
- Help with sprains and sprains
- Treatment of headaches and bruises
- Help with eye inflammation
- Treatment of hemorrhoids
In all these cases, the grated pulp should be applied to sore spots and kept for some time (20-30 minutes).
Starch
Powdered starch is often used to treat heel spurs. Usually it is poured directly into the socks under the heels, and the next day the procedure is repeated. Potato starch is also used to eliminate diaper rash in young children. In liquid form (jelly), starch helps protect the lining of the stomach or intestines in case of poisoning.
Boiled, baked and potato steam
Flavored potatoes cooked in their uniforms are useful for people suffering from hypertension and heart disease. It is recommended to use it together with the skin, as it contains substances important for the normal functioning of the heart: zinc and potassium. Steam from potatoes has long been used by the people as an inhalation: in this way, you can cure a cold. How to do it: boiled potatoes are kneaded with a spoon directly in a saucepan with broth, if possible, add a few drops of essential oil (eucalyptus), then cover with a bedspread and a blanket over the pan and breathe hot steam.
From a strong cough, the following recipe will help: mash potatoes, add a couple of garlic cloves and a teaspoon of butter. It should be consumed hot 3-4 times a day.
Use in cosmetology
In addition to useful medicinal properties, potatoes also give a wonderful cosmetic effect. The root crop is good because recipes for masks from it can be easily made at home. Here are the most famous of them:
- Prepare mashed potatoes and add lemon juice to it. Apply to face, wash off after 25 minutes. This mask will give freshness to the face.
- Acne is eliminated with a mixture of raw potato juice and a teaspoon of liquid honey. Apply every day on the face and keep for about 20 minutes. Course: 14 days.
- Can't get rid of bags under your eyes? Mash a small raw potato and apply the resulting slurry daily on the eyes for half an hour. Wash off with clean water.
- Combine starch with warm milk, salt and liquid honey (all ingredients - 1 teaspoon each). Apply the mask on your face for 20 minutes. This way you will get rid of enlarged pores.
Hand skin care
Wrinkles on the hands can be removed with the following mixture: mix milk with grated warm boiled potatoes and castor oil. Put the mass on your hand and hold until the mixture cools down.
If the skin on the hands is dry, try this: boil the potatoes and put your hands in a warm bath with the broth.
For legs
From cracks on the feet, starch dissolved in water (a tablespoon per liter) helps. After the procedure, lubricate the feet with glycerin.
Potato for weight loss
Everyone knows that potatoes have a high calorie content, and in this case, many may think that it is impossible to lose weight with the help of this fruit. Nevertheless, nutritionists have developed rigid mono-diets, in which the main product is potatoes. Below is a menu of one of these diets:
- Morning: a glass of low-fat milk and 1 boiled potato
- Day: mashed potatoes without adding any oil - 200 g
- Evening: chicken egg and boiled potato salad (use a little lemon juice and olive oil as a dressing).
Adhere to such a nutrition system is no more than 4-5 days. The fact is that the given mono-diet will not provide the body with the substances it needs every day. Be sure to drink at least 2 liters of clean water without gas during the diet, and also take green tea and multivitamins.
Contraindications
Despite the fact that potatoes are successfully used for medicinal purposes and cosmetology, there are a number of contraindications. Firstly, in no case should you eat those tubers that have turned green. If you store potatoes in the light, then under the influence of sunlight a strong toxic substance is formed - solanine.
Secondly, some people are allergic to this root crop. The most common allergic symptom: a reddish rash that can appear elementarily upon contact with any part of the potato (greens, root crops, peeled fruit). Also, with an allergic reaction, swelling of the oral mucosa is possible.
Other contraindications:
- diabetes
- venereal diseases
- urolithiasis disease
- enteritis, colitis
- obesity
Why dream of potatoes?
The root crop familiar to all of us has not only material properties - in dream books you can find various explanations for dreams in which potatoes were dreamed of. For example:
- If you eat potatoes in a dream, then in reality you will have a small quick profit, but you are unlikely to be satisfied with your work.
- If you peel potatoes in a dream, then you can soon become free and not depend on certain people.
- Selling root crops means parting with enemies or unwanted guests.
- Plant potatoes in a dream? This may mean labor that will not bring profit.
However, potatoes that are not always dreamed of in a dream can mean what is written in dream books. Believe in yourself and just enjoy tasty and healthy potatoes!
