POTATOES NUTRITIONAL FRIENDS OR FOES

POTATOES : NUTRITIONAL FRIENDS OR FOES
 Be it roasted, steamed  boiled ,baked , roasted, I love them. Growing up, I looked forward to Saturday breakfasts because they are very 'Nigerian' .Friday when my mum would return from work with a Barco bag stuffed with round oblong and indefinite shapes on the inside , I knew it was  potato pottage garnished with pumpkin leaves and smoked fish the next day after chores. my favorite will always be sweet potatoes but lately I've been warming up to Irish potatoes; they are oh so versatile.
so, what is potato?
Potato (Binomial name Solanum tubersorum) is a starchy plant tuber. it is one of the most important and the fourth most consumed food crop in the world. There are more than 100 varieties of potatoes cultivated around the world which fall into 3 basic categories : starchy, waxy and those in- between are referred to  as  all- purpose . The varieties of potatoes include and are not limited to the russet Japanese sweet potato, Norland Red, Austrian Crescent, La Rette white, Russian banana, jewel yam, yellow ,  Kennebec and youkon Gold potatoes.
NUTRITONAL FRIEND?
Potatoes are stuffed with phytonutrients, which are organic components of plants that promote health. The vitamin C in potatoes act as an antioxidant. These substances may prevent or delay some types of cell damage. They also help in digestion, proper function of the heart, blood pressure and even cancer prevention.
BLOOD PRESSURE Potatoes may help lower blood pressure because the fiber found in them can help to lower cholesterol by binding with cholesterol in the blood. Potatoes are a good source of potassium, which helps to lower blood pressure through its actions as a vasodilator (blood vessel widener).
BRAIN FUNCTIONING AND NERVOUS SYSTEM HEALTH: The B6 vitamins in potatoes are critical to maintaining neurological health . vitamin B6 helps create useful brain chemicals including serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. According to the Maryland Medical Center. This means that eating potatoes may help with depression and stress. Potatoes high level of carborhydrate may have some advantages. Including helping maintain good levels of glucose in the blood, which is necessary for proper brain functioning.
IMMUNITY: Vitamin C present in potatoes can help prevent everything from scurvy to common cold .
DIGESTION: The largest health benefits offered by potatoes is how they help with digestion due to their high fiber content. Potatoes high level of carbohydrate makes them easy to digest . Nothing beats fiber when it comes to digestive health , potatoes are a fabulous source of fiber and nutrients especially when eaten with the skin.
SKIN CARE: According to organic facts  vitamin c, vitamin B6 potassium , magnesium  can all help keep skin as smooth and creamy . These nutrients are all present in potatoes. Blended potato juice works magic for the removal of the blackness found under one's eyes .
NUTRITIONAL FOE? when fried potatoes may lead to weight loss when eaten example are French fries, hash browns, potato chips and bacon bits. Baking or microwaving potatoes is the healthiest way to cook a potato . The next healthiest to cook a potato is through steaming, which causes less nutrient loss than  boiling.
FUN FACT: Potato was the first vegetable to be grown in space in 1995 . This simply tells us how cool it is , doesn't it ?