Potatoes are a favorite crop. They are present in the emblematic recipes.
Some of them are fries with white cheese, potato salad, pork shank with potatoes, cabbage with potatoes, cheese patatnik, potatoes with rice. In some places in the world, lutenitsa with potatoes is made. In general, this food is everywhere and it is definitely our favorite. That is why growing potatoes is so widespread.
The history of the industry begins with the first European information about it in 1537, by the Spanish conquistador Castellanos. Even then, these vegetables were considered unhealthy food. However, 1, 000 potato varieties exist today. Among plant foods, they are in second place, after bread.
The question of how potatoes affect our physical condition is quite confusing. Half of the nutritionists say "Eat potatoes, " and the other half say, "Don't eat potatoes."
The composition of potatoes include water, starch, 0.9% sugars, cellulose, fats and proteins, a significant amount of amino acids, mineral salts, and are usually rich in vitamin C - only 200-300 g of the vegetable cover the daily need for this vitamin.
However, it should be known that over time, the levels of vitamins in them decrease. So new potatoes are more healthy than regular potatoes.
Why should we eat new potatoes?
New potatoes contain a significantly higher amount of vitamin C, and vitamins B1, PP, K, etc. are more significantly present than other vitamins.
At their expense, cellulose is only 0.5%. Also, there are fewer toxic chemicals in new potatoes because they are simply not processed with them.
Regarding the question of healthy and high-calorie foods, it should be noted that the potato itself is low-calorie. It has only 80 calories. This automatically makes it a food suitable for overweight people and those who want to lose extra weight.
Potatoes also have a pronounced diuretic effect. It is best to cook them well washed and unpeeled. In this way, the contained vitamin C is stored as much as possible, at the expense of potassium, which is lost. When they are steamed, the opposite happens - potassium is preserved, but vitamin C is reduced to a minimum.
When stored for a long time, at a temperature above 10°C, the vitamins in potatoes decrease their values. This process is inevitable. Therefore, it is best to eat new potatoes.
Even if you don't have new potatoes available, eating regular ones is also beneficial. All their bad qualities are removed when they go through heat treatment.
Another advantage of new potatoes is that they can be eaten with the skin on, as it is very delicate and pleasant to the taste when cooked. Unlike regular potatoes where the skin may not be very tasty.
Let's also remember the benefits of eating a potato with the skin on.
Potato skins are a great source of potassium. Eating new potatoes with the skin on boosts your metabolism and helps support cells in generating useful energy. Potato skins are also a source of iron, which helps maintain red blood cell function.
Potato skins are a good source of vitamin B3, which helps cells break down nutrients into usable fuel. In addition, vitamin B3 helps cells recover from physiological stress. The skin of a potato gives you a good amount of fiber. Fiber is helpful in keeping metabolism in check, in addition to reducing the risk of colon cancer, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Eating new potatoes with the skin is useful in fighting allergy and increasing immunity. Potato skins are a natural source of flavonoids, a type of phytonutrient that exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that protect your body from infection and disease.
Eating new potatoes with the skin helps manage blood pressure. Potato skins also help your heart function properly. If you eat the skin of an organic potato, it will help you manage your blood pressure naturally through its minerals - potassium, magnesium and calcium.
Potato skins are also good for your bones. Potato skins have certain minerals that are essential for maintaining your bone structure and strength. These nutrients include iron, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, copper and zinc. About 50-60% of the magnesium in your body is found in your bones. Consumption of unpeeled new potatoes may help to maintain bone density and may also reduce the risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, according to experts at the National Institutes of Health.
Cooking new potatoes
We have already mentioned many reasons why new potatoes are better than regular ones. Now it's time to look at another of their advantages, which, however, concerns cooking potatoes. The truth is that new potatoes are preferable because they cook much faster.
As already mentioned, their peel contains many useful substances, is delicate and does not need to be peeled. You can only wash the potatoes well and brush them well with a brush under running water to make sure that the dirt will fall off. Then you can blanch them lightly, but this is not even necessary. When you are ready, you can move on to preparing your favorite dish. Just keep in mind that new potatoes are made faster than old ones. Be careful not to burn or overcook them. Otherwise, you can prepare different potato dishes with new potatoes. Among them are:
- French fries;
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