Potato is also called Batata, Aloo, or Bateta. Potato is a tuber and although it is classified as a vegetable but nutritionally it is classified as starchy food. It is usually regarded as a comfort food. Often consumed as fried, mashed, baked, roasted or in various subzis.
It is used as a thickener in various sauces and soups. A great binding agent for tikkis and vadas, as a stuffing for parathas or in chats and sandwiches. Here is a complete list of recipes using potatoes.
Nutritive Value of potato
Potatoes give 100 calories per 100 gram of the vegetable which is high, because most vegetables give about 50 calories per 100 grams. They give a good amount of carbohydrates. Therefore, potato can be used in place of cereal grains as it is high in carbohydrates. Potatoes are fat free but they are starchy carbohydrates with very little protein. It contains B-complex vitamins, Vitamin C, Magnesium and Potassium.
Are potatoes good for weight loss?
Being high in simple carbohydrates they can lead to weight gain thus are not good for people with diabetes and obesity. Potatoes leave you high on energy and make you prone to hunger and cravings. Making weight loss a great task.
Are potatoes good for diabetes?
They are high in glycemic index and cause an increase the blood glucose levels. If there are high glucose levels in the blood it is turned into fat.
Eating potatoes can raise your blood glucose levels quickly and may cause a sudden drop of the blood glucose making you feel hungry and you may tend to eat more.
Are potatoes good for heart?
People with heart problems should avoid consuming potatoes because they are prone to conditions like obesity and diabetes. Since they can trigger these chronic health problems potatoes are not recommended for heart patients.
Are potatoes good for weight gain?
Potatoes are recommended for malnourished children and people with low weight. As potatoes give a good amount of energy. They cause a rapid increase in blood sugar and insulin levels, which has an effect on appetite and weight. It increases the appetite and person tents to eat more which is required for people on weight gain program.
Can you eat potatoes?
Eating potatoes is not a concern for healthy individuals. It is the way a food is prepared using potatoes. Potatoes are usually made unhealthy by deep frying in recipes like samosa, vadas, tikkis. Instead potatoes can be baked or steamed.
Cooked and cooled potatoes are better because it changes the composition of the food and makes the starch resist digestion which does not lead to high levels of blood glucose.
A healthy person can have potatoes but in limited portion size. But potatoes are not recommended for weight-loss, people with diabetes, obesity and heart problems. These people can use other vegetables like healthy cauliflower, healthy broccoli, healthy peas, French beans to use as a stuffing. Other binding agents can be used instead of potatoes such as oats flour, whole wheat flour and eggs.