Delicious, versatile and good for you, potatoes are an essential food in any kitchen. They come in many varieties, each one suitable for different recipes (check out our seed potatoes), while still sharing certain common features, so let’s find out which ones.
They are very filling. Potatoes are one of the best vegetables for keeping your weight under control. Rich in starch, they contain more calories than other vegetables, but fewer than cereals and cereal-based products. In fact, they provide about 80 kcal per 100 grams and are very filling, more so than pasta: a 200 g portion of boiled potatoes seasoned with extra virgin olive oil and salt provides about 260 calories, less than half that of a dish of pasta with tomato sauce! So, when seasoned in moderation, they can help lower your daily calorie intake.
They are useful for making your circulatory system work properly. Potatoes are a good source of vitamins, particularly ascorbic acid (vitamin C), folic acid and carotenoids. Their mineral content mainly includes potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and zinc. Potassium, in particular, is useful for helping your heart and, more generally speaking, your circulatory system work properly.
They are a good way of combating constipation. The fibre in potatoes can help reduce the absorption of fat, sugar and cholesterol, stimulating bowel movements and helping combat constipation.
They are easy to digest. The starch in raw potatoes has a crystalline structure, which makes it difficult to digest. Cooking causes gelatinisation of the starch, making potatoes considerably easier to digest (provided that you don’t go over the top with the condiments).
They have emollient and moisturising properties. The solanine found in potatoes has emollient and moisturising properties. For example, to relieve sunburn, apply a few thin slices of potato onto any red areas and wait a few minutes to enjoy a pleasantly fresh feeling. Solanine is also useful for preventing skin from peeling (see also: Sunburn and dry skin: milk, potatoes and other unexpected remedies).
