| POTATO : All those naughty children around the world, who dislike eating any vegetable and hate them like anything, share another common interest. All of them like potatoes. This is the magic of the potatoes. You will hardly find anyone who dislikes them. Today one cannot even imagine vegetables without potatoes. This shapeless and ugly looking tuber, bearing the scientific name Solanum Tuberosum, has cast a spell on us. Potato lovers (including me), and those who do not like them, will be equally delighted to know that potatoes have more in store for them than just carbohydrates and calories. Let us uncover them. The health benefits of potato include the following: - Weight Gain: Potatoes are mounds of carbohydrates and contain little proteins too. This makes it an ideal diet for those lean and thins who desperately want to put on weight. The vitamins like vitamin-C and B-complex also help in proper absorption of this carbohydrate. That is why they make an inevitable part of the diet of Sumo Wrestlers.
- Digestion: Since potatoes predominantly contain carbohydrates, they are easy to digest and facilitate digestion. This property makes them a good diet for patients, babies and those who cannot digest hard food but need energy. But you must remember that eating too much of potatoes regularly may cause acidity in the long run. Potatoes also contain considerable amount of fiber or roughage, more in raw potatoes and cold ones than boiled or hot ones.
- Skin Care: Vitamin-C and B-complex and minerals like potassium,magnesium, phosphorus and zinc are good for the skin. Apart from that, pulp obtained from crushed raw potatoes, mixed with honey, can serve as excellent skin and face packs. This helps even curing pimples and spots on the skin. Again, this pulp, if applied externally on burns, gives a quick relief and heals fast. Smashed potatoes, even water in which potatoes are washed, are very good for softening and cleaning skin, especially around elbows, back of the palms etc.
- Scurvy: The vitamin-C present in potatoes can help prevent this dreaded deficiency disease, caused due to lack of vitamin-C. It is characterized by cracked lip corners, spongy and bleeding gums, frequent viral infections like cold etc.
- Rheumatism: There are two aspects of this factor. Vitamins, calcium and magnesium in potatoes help giving relief in rheumatism. Water obtained from boiling potato gives relief in rheumatism. But due to high starch or carbohydrate content it tends to increase body weight which may have adverse effects on rheumatic people.
- Inflammation: Potato is very effective in inflammation, internal or external. Since it is soft, easy digestible and has a lot of vitamin-C (very good anti-oxidant and repairs wears and tears), potassium and vitamin-B6, among others, it relieves inflammation of intestines and the digestive system. It is very good diet for those who have mouth ulcers. Again, raw smashed potato can be applied to relieve external inflammation, burns etc.
- High Blood Pressure: Since high blood pressure is caused due to a number of reasons, including diabetes, tension, indigestion, nature of food and many such, different are the cures. Potato can be used to relieve High Blood Pressure due to tension, indigestion etc. due to abundance of vitamin-C and B in it, but should be avoided if it is due to diabetes. The fiber present in it is helpful in lowering cholesterol and improves functioning of insulin in the body, which aids to lowering of blood pressure, since there is a direct relation between the blood pressure and the glucose level in the blood and insulin regulates this glucose level.
- Brain Function: Proper functioning of the brain depends largely on the glucose level, oxygen supply, some members of the vitamin-B complex and some hormones, amino acids and fatty acids like omega-3 fatty acids. Potatoes cater to almost all the needs mentioned above. They are high in carbohydrates and thus maintain good level of glucose in the blood which does not let brain fatigue creep in and keeps the brain active and alert. Next is oxygen which is carried to the brain by the haemoglobin in the blood and whose main constituent is iron. Potato contains iron too and thus
- ids to this function also. Next is the turn of vitamin-B complex. Here again, potato is rich in vitamin-B6 and contains traces of other members of this complex. In addition, it contains certain other elements like phosphorus and zinc which are good for brain too.
- Heart Diseases: Apart from the vitamins (B-complex, C), minerals and roughage, potatoes also contain certain substances called Carotenoids (lutein, zeaxanthin etc.) which are beneficial for heart and other internal organs. But again, since it raises the glucose level in the blood and over intake may cause obesity, which in turn can put a lot of pressure on your heart; hence it is not recommended for obese or diabetic people.
- Kidney Stones: Kidney Stones, also known as Renal Calculi, are caused mainly due to raised level of uric acid in blood. In such cases, high proteins should be avoided, particularly animal proteins such as meat, turkey, shrimps, sea fishes, eggs, milk etc. as well as spinach, raw plantain, black grams and certain beans, which drastically increase the level of uric acid in blood. Iron and calcium also help form the stone. Potato is rich in both of these and normally seems not fit from this point of view. But it is very rich in magnesium which resists accumulation or deposition of calcium (calcification) in the kidney and other tissues, thereby proving beneficial for treatment of renal calculi.
- Diarrhea: It is an excellent energy-rich diet for those suffering from diarrhea, since it is very easy to digest as well as contains mild roughage. But an over intake may cause diarrhea due to excess ingestion of starch.
- Other Benefits and Cautions: Juice of potato is a good treatment for burns,bruises, sprains, skin problems, ulcers, effect of narcotics, cancer of prostrate and uterus and formation of cysts or tumors. On the other hand, some care also needs to be taken while eating potatoes. Green potatoes are poisonous, and so are potato leaves and fruits, as they contain alkaloids like solanine, chaconine and arsenic whose overdose may prove fatal. Moreover, the glycemic index (in simple words, the energy or sugar content) of potatoes is very high (above 80) and so obese, diabetic and those who are slimming down should avoid eating potatoes. If eaten, potatoes are better baked than raw or fried.
No! You need not worry because it is not that serious. If you are otherwise fine and healthy (a bit of fat is not at all bad. Instead, it is beneficial), you can always enjoy potato chips and French-fries while watching TV. You won’t become a couch-potato if you eat it within limits. |
Wow.. perfect cutlet dear. My brother asked me to make cutlet, i was about to search for the right recipe, got it now.. Thanks for posting da!;)
ReplyDeleteperfect cutlet...nice evening snack..
ReplyDeleteYummy ones I made it yesterday but I deep fried them.
ReplyDeleteThanks sangee, rekha and saraswathi..sangee , try this and leave ur comment :)
ReplyDeleteYummy and mouthwatering cutlets....
ReplyDeleteHey Chitra,
ReplyDeleteLovely cutlets..... I wanna prepare them sometime too..... I just tried beet.... It came out well...but wanted to try veg cuts some day.. & will...hence saving your recipe to try.....
Thanks for sharing your love on me & my post..... You deserve all those TOFAS....... Hope to c u around more often....
Ash....
(http://asha-oceanichope.blogspot.com/)
easy and tasty cutlets..perfect snack..
ReplyDeleteCutlets looks crisp on the outside and browned nicely.
ReplyDeleteLoved those informations on potaotes. Got to know about it more. Thanks for sharing.
looks delicious..
ReplyDeleteWow,perfect snack with a cup of tea,its long time I made,you tempt me so badly...:)
ReplyDeletevegetable cutlets look perfect, crispy top and tempting with that ketchup; I'd love it with chilly sauce too!!! the onion chutney is equally good, Mythreyi has delightful recipes too!!!
ReplyDeletenice veggie cutlets! Love the kitchen clinic ....following u...
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful and delicious cutlets, love with ketchup for the sure....that onion chutney looks awesome too..
ReplyDeletethey are tempting me dear..have all the veggies...will try out this weekend
ReplyDeletehey chitra,
ReplyDeletecutlets and ketchup is a perfect combo to gorge on these yummies :)
Thanks for the kitchen clinic info dear...it's the info I'd require now :) as I've just recovered from renal stone :)
TC
Hey Chitra
ReplyDeleteveg cutlets looks delicious and tasty!!! nice info on potatoes..:))
I have never got a good cutlet, without being soaked in oil,but deep fry them..Next time I should try pan frying them just l like you did here...they look delicious
ReplyDeleteYUM! i love her books, Cutlets look delicious. Good one.
ReplyDeleteகட்லெட் ரொம்ப சூப்பராயிருக்கு....
ReplyDeleteNice to see you Chitra...the cutlets look very crispy and delicious :)
ReplyDeleteyummy n crispy, dear!
ReplyDeleteCutlet looks so crispy and nice in color. Perfect evening snack Chitra.
ReplyDeleteAll time fav. evening snack...
ReplyDeleteFirst time here.. nice space.. liked the info in your Kitchen clinic.. Will visit often.. I also posted a recipe of Cutlets today.. do check out. Cheers..
ReplyDeleteNice and crunchy snack for tea.
ReplyDeletePerfect cutlets ..looks too tempting to say NOOO
ReplyDeleteChitra,
ReplyDeleteVegetable cutlets and chutney looks really good.
Yummy and mouthwatering cutlets...looks tempting and crispy...perfect evening snack.
ReplyDeleteLovely recipe...Chitra!!!
ReplyDeleteI am following your blog...you have very detailed tips and info. on the item you are cooking!!!
Awesome...
Hi Chithra, this is my first visit and am in love with your page. so many great recipes and simply incredible pictures. am drooling at this platter of veggie cutlet.
ReplyDeletelove those cutlets!
ReplyDeleteMade them yesterday!!, they look so crispy and delicious dear, wondering where you had gone!!, Mmm., very mouth watering pictures
ReplyDeleteCutlet recipe superb, we will try it out, about potatoe - lot of new info. from now on nobody can yell 'coach potato' :) do french fry also same, i heard its not healthy!!
ReplyDeleteCutlet looks crispy and yummy, good info on potatoes Chitra.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks a lot for trying out my recipe dear, its looks absolutely delicious than mine!
Perfect cutlets, looks delicious !
ReplyDeleteGlad that yu fixed your prob... The cutlets are so tempting and a perfect evening snack!!!
ReplyDeletehttp://memoryarchieved.blogspot.com
Looks good. And yes, even I am going through that phase of no posting on the blog. But you are really back with a bang.
ReplyDeleteAha.. SO droolworthy cutlet!! Just perfectly done :)
ReplyDeletea drooling pic :)
ReplyDeleteCutlets look great..Your kitchen clinic rocks...
ReplyDeleteOnion Chutney pic super !!!!