Sowing of potatoes is going on these days. Every vegetable has a season in the market but the market remains decorated with potatoes for 12 months. Potato is a favorite of children and adults alike. Almost every day, potatoes are seen in the house, sometimes in the form of parathas and sometimes in the form of snacks, vegetables, tikkis or pakodas. Potatoes rule every country in the world. Potato may look tasty but some people should avoid eating it. The special thing about potato is that it is not only used for eating or enhancing beauty. Many unique works are being done in the world through this.
Potato is a foreign vegetable
Potato is called in English potato which is derived from the Spanish word patata. Potato means ‘earth apple’ or ‘ground apple’. The potato which we eat with great fondness is a foreign vegetable. Evidence of potato cultivation is found in Peru, South America, about 10 thousand years ago. At that time potatoes were called batata. After this, potato reached Europe from Spain and European traders got it entered in India. Actually, he came to India to sell potatoes and since then potato became local and became the pride of every kitchen. When potato reached Europe, it was called the vegetable of poor people. Rich people used to avoid eating it.
Not everyone should eat potatoes
dietitian Satnam Kaur She says that potatoes contain good amounts of potassium, calcium, magnesium and fiber. Eating potatoes provides instant energy to the body because the level of carbohydrates in it is good. Eating this keeps blood pressure under control. Due to the presence of calcium, bones also remain strong. Due to the presence of antioxidants, the skin remains healthy and wrinkles do not form. Potato is a boon for those who are thin and want to increase their weight because it contains more calories. But people who are overweight should not eat it. At the same time, potato has a high glycemic index due to which blood sugar increases rapidly, hence people who are diabetic should avoid eating it. Due to high potassium content, it is poisonous for kidney patients.
In America, 35% of potatoes are used only for making French fries (Image-Canva)
When potatoes killed half of Ireland’s population
There was a period of Great Famine in Ireland between 1845 and 1852. It is also called Great Hunger. Actually, at this time the potato was affected by a fungus called late blight. More than 10 lakh people died from eating these bad potatoes. Many people fled the country. This was the darkest page in the history of Ireland. Where the population of this country was 85 lakh, it decreased to 44 lakh in 1901.
Do not eat potatoes if they sprout.
Sometimes potatoes start turning green. It germinates quickly. This potato should be avoided. National Capital Poison Center According to this, sprouted potatoes are poisonous. It produces a substance called solanine which can cause stomach pain. Apart from this, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps and fever may occur. If potatoes are kept for a long time and they start sprouting, their starch starts converting into sugar.
Potato absorbs nuclear radiation
Potato is also used in nuclear testing. In fact, it was said in some reports that when nuclear testing was conducted in Pokhran in India, potatoes were used in it. of America University of Tennessee Did a study on this. Research revealed that potato absorbs gamma radiation. With this, the harm of radiation from a nuclear bomb can be avoided.
In the 19th century, European royal women used to decorate potato flowers in their hair (Image-Canva)
Potato Museum
Potato is everyone’s first choice, that is why there is a potato museum in the world. The Potato Museum was started in Belgium in 1975 as a classroom project. After this it was opened in Washington, America. But in 1993 it was shifted to New Mexico. Some potatoes are preserved in this museum. There are also artefacts in its shape. Research also continues here. Potato is the first vegetable which was grown in space in 1995.
Medicine and paper made from potato starch
Potato starch is used extensively in the industry because it contains high amount of starch. It is used in medicine making, textile, wood and paper industries. Potato starch is 100% biodegradable, that is, it does not harm the environment, hence it is also used in place of plastic, such as disposable plates and glasses are made from it. A study was conducted on potatoes in the Canadian state of New Brunswick. In this, potato was described as zero value waste and it was said that up to Rs 50 lakh worth of ethanol could be made from 44,000 tonnes of its peels. It is a renewable fuel that can benefit transportation and pharmaceutical industries.
Tags: eat healthy, european union, fresh vegetables, health, Potato expensive, United States of America
FIRST PUBLISHED: October 28, 2024, 13:21 IST
