Healthy Eating with Potatoes

Potatoes are a healthy dietary option and may prove to have unexpected benefits.

They are packed with chemicals called kukoamines. These have positive health benefits as part of a well balanced diet. These chemicals are also found in many Chinese Medicines and tests show they they may help to lower blood pressure.

They have also been used to treat sleeping sickness which is common in some parts of Africa, and this discovery led scientists to research potatoes and their health benefits further.

Those types of potatoes with more of a yellow, than white flesh, provide more vitamin A. Some examples of this are Yukon Gold, German Butterball and in U.K., Desire and Charlotte varieties.

This vitamin aids good vision and healthy skin.

Potato skins contains high amounts of potassium and vitamin A so it’s more healthy to leave them on where you can. This mineral is important for efficient functioning of nerves and muscles and in regulating blood pressure.

This vegetable also contains glutathione which is a anti-oxidant than may help in the prevention of cancer.

Potatoes boiled with skins contain a whole range of vitamins and minerals:

• Vitamin C
• Vitamin B6
• Copper
• Potassium
• Manganese
• Tryptophan (anti-depressant)
• Fibre.

Fried potatoes lose many of these vitamins and minerals and they have added fat. Even baked potatoes are less healthy by the time butter, or a substitute is added. Whole, boiled potatoes in their skins are the most healthy option. They need not be a boring option either as there are many different varieties of white, yellow and pink potatoes available.