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21Potato juice is an underrated health and longevity drink. Top 6 Benefits
Anna Shelestun, nutritionist, nutritionist
Eliseeva Tatyana, editor-in-chief of the EdaPlus.info project.
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
Abstract. Potato juice is a unique healing drink that allows you to significantly improve your health and get rid of many diseases without the use of unnecessary and not always useful medications. In particular, it can be used to improve the gastrointestinal tract, cure gastritis and heartburn, and even prevent the development of oncology, as well as improve sleep and calm the nervous system, prolong the beauty and youth of the body.
Key words: potatoes, potato juice , useful properties, contraindications, composition, calorie content
Potatoes are part of many dishes. In boiled, baked and fried forms, it perfectly complements the taste of fish and meat dishes and is a source of many useful substances. But you can use it not only cooked, but also raw. A raw root crop is considered no less useful, because due to the lack of heat treatment, the amount of nutrients contained in it does not decrease. That is why many nutritionists recommend including fresh potato juice in the diet to solve numerous health problems. It is hardly possible to buy such an original drink in ordinary stores, and preparing it yourself is not difficult.
Composition and calories
Raw potatoes belong to the category of rather juicy vegetables - they contain 81.1% of water, which allows you to squeeze enough juice even from a small amount of root crops. It contains a lot of fiber (13.2%) and complex carbohydrates, starch (16%). The latter accelerates metabolism and serves as an additional source of energy, and without the use of additional drugs effectively reduces the level of cholesterol in the blood. At the same time, the vegetable contains practically no fat (0.26%) and relatively few proteins - 1.81%. [1] But at the same time, potato protein is scientifically recognized as
the most valuable and non-allergic protein of plant origin [2] . Due to the high content of unique amino acids (lysine, threonine, leucine), the product has a high antioxidant and cytotoxic potential. [3]
Potato juice is a source of many vitamins and minerals. In particular, it contains:
• Potassium (446 mg) - regulates the water-salt balance of the body, stabilizes heart rate and blood pressure [4] , reduces the manifestations of allergic reactions. Fatigue and weakness, spasm and muscle atrophy may indicate a low level of potassium. [5]
• Phosphorus (57 mg). It strengthens bone tissue (its deficiency can even cause rickets and malformations of the skeleton [6] ), stabilizes the functioning of the nervous system, and improves mental activity.
• Magnesium (22.3 mg). Reduces joint pain and muscle cramps, inhibits the processes of excitation of the central nervous system and reduces pressure [7] - helps to relax and stabilize sleep, relieves increased cravings for sweets. Low magnesium levels can cause migraines, cerebrovascular accidents, the development of Alzheimer's disease and type 2 diabetes. [8]
• Molybdenum (7.8 mcg). The trace element stabilizes sexual function - it provides prevention of impotence, helps in detoxifying the body, prevents the development of anemia and oncology, and relieves joint pain in arthritis. [9]
Also, the composition of vegetable fresh includes a number of vitamins. Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid (23.3 mg), is an important antioxidant that protects cells from premature destruction and aging. Prolongs the youth of the body, strengthens the cardiovascular system, has antitumor activity [10] - is used in the treatment of cancer. B group vitamins: B1, or thiamine, (0.051 mg) - normalizes the acidity of gastric juice and improves digestion, increases the body's resistance to viruses and infections, prevents the development of beriberi disease [11], is used in the treatment of autism [ 12 ] . Niacin, or vitamin B3 (1.58 mg), regulates cholesterol levels in the blood [13] , dilates blood vessels, lowers blood pressure and has a positive effect on mental well-being, prevents cell death and restores DNA. [14] Vitamin B6 (0.145 mg) — enhances the protective functions of the body [15] , improves the absorption of unsaturated fatty acids, protects against diabetic complications [16] , reduces the risk of developing urolithiasis, and helps to remove excess fluid from the body.
Top 6 Health Benefits of Potato Juice
1. Has an anticonvulsant and sedative effect
Potatoes contain small amounts of benzodiazepines of natural origin, psychoactive substances with hypnotic, sedative and anticonvulsant effects. The conducted experiments show that the systematic use of fresh undiluted potato juice helps to calm the nervous system and get rid of convulsions. [17]
2. Effective in the treatment of cancer of the gastrointestinal tract
It has been proven that the active substances contained in potato juice have a depressing effect on the growth of tumors, in particular on the cells of gastric carcinoma, colon cancer, colorectal adenocarcinoma. [18] Include fresh potato juice in your family's diet for effective prevention of oncological diseases of the internal organs!
3. Improves stomach function
Studies show that in most patients suffering from dyspeptic diseases (stomach disorders, manifested by soreness, a feeling of heaviness, fullness), the systematic use of freshly squeezed potato juice shows a positive trend. [19] Their well-being improves significantly, which allows us to recommend this drink for self-treatment of gastric problems.
4. Has antioxidant properties
It has been proven that potato juice, used for many years in folk medicine as an effective remedy for gastric diseases, also has a high antioxidant potential. [20] The unique amino acids contained in it protect the cells of the body from damage and premature death, thereby prolonging its youth and health.
5. Reduces symptoms of heartburn
The natural starch that is part of the potato helps to reduce the acidity of gastric juice, which helps to avoid painful attacks of heartburn and reduce the manifestations of GERD, acid reflux.
6. Protects the liver from damage
Numerous medical studies confirm that the extract obtained from the potato (especially its skin rich in polyphenols) has a high antioxidant activity [21] and a detox effect. It effectively protects the liver from damage, cleanses it of toxins and promotes recovery.
Also, potato juice is often used in cosmetology. In particular, it is used to prepare special anti-acne, brightening, anti-aging masks - the liquid has excellent anti-inflammatory properties, tightens and refreshes the skin well.
Contraindications and features of drinking fresh potato juice
For all its benefits, it has potato juice and some contraindications. In particular, this drink is not recommended for use with low acidity of the stomach, since the starch contained in the liquid helps to further reduce it. Also, people suffering from acute pancreatitis should be treated with caution.
It is recommended to drink fresh potato in courses (2-3 weeks in a row, then taking a break for several months) three times a day in equal portions before meals (30 minutes before meals). You should start your acquaintance with a new drink with small dosages of 1 tablespoon at a time, gradually increasing the portion to 100 ml.
Note! Immediately after squeezing, it is advisable to let the potato juice stand a little, a few minutes. This time will be enough for all useful substances to remain in the drink, and excess starch has time to fall to the bottom in the form of sediment.
How to prepare and store potato juice
For the preparation of juice, fruits of a fresh harvest should be selected. Please note that old potatoes (dug out earlier than six months ago) begin to accumulate the harmful plant alkaloid solanine (its concentration is significantly increased in sprouted and green tubers). Eating such a product can lead to serious poisoning [22] . Therefore, for processing, it is recommended to use only young potatoes grown on their own (which provides additional confidence in the absence of herbicides and other chemicals in the drink) or purchased from trusted sellers.
The most useful will be a drink made from unpeeled root crops. After all, the greatest concentration of useful vitamin C is stored under the skin. Just rinse the tubers thoroughly with water, cleaning them with a special brush from dirt (you can additionally scald them with boiling water to guarantee the destruction of harmful microorganisms) and pass through the juicer. It is better to use a screw unit. The juice obtained with its help practically does not oxidize, retains its beneficial properties longer.
Potato juice can be consumed freshly squeezed, or can be preserved by pre-heating it. Studies show that high temperature not only does not kill the beneficial properties of the drink, but, on the contrary, has a positive effect on its antioxidant and cytotoxic activity. [23]
Literature
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2. Hussain, M., Qayum, A., Xiuxiu, Z., Liu, L., Hussain, K., Yue, P., ... & Li, X. (2021). Potato protein: An emerging source of high quality and allergy free protein, and its possible future based products. Food Research International, 148, 110583. DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2021.110583
3. Kowalczewski, P. L., Olejnik, A., Bialas, W., Rybicka, I., Zielinska-Dawidziak, M., Siger, A., ... & Lewandowicz, G. (2019). The nutritional value and biological activity of concentrated protein fraction of potato juice. Nutrients, 11(7), 1523. DOI: 10.3390/nu11071523
4. Dreier, R., Andersen, UB, Forman, JL, Sheykhzade, M., Egfjord, M., & Jeppesen, JL (2021). Effect of Increased Potassium Intake on Adrenal Cortical and Cardiovascular Responses to Angiotensin II: A Randomized Crossover Study. Journal of the American Heart Association, 10(9), e018716. DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.120.018716
5. Lee, YJ, Lee, M., Wi, YM, Cho, S., & Kim, S. R. (2020). Potassium intake, skeletal muscle mass, and effect modification by sex: data from the 2008-2011 KNHANES. Nutrition journal, 19(1), 1-9. DOI: 10.1186/s12937-020-00614-z
6. Sugiura, SH, Hardy, RW, & Roberts, RJ (2004). The pathology of phosphorus deficiency in fish-a review. Journal of fish diseases, 27(5), 255-265. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2761. 2004.00527.x
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mice through binding to GABA receptors. Planta medica, 74(05), 491-496. DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1074495
18. Kowalczewski, P. L., Olejnik, A., Rybicka, I., Zielinska-Dawidziak, M., Bialas, W., & Lewandowicz, G. (2021). Membrane filtration-assisted enzymatic hydrolysis affects the biological activity of potato juice. Molecules, 26(4), 852. DOI: 10.3390/molecules26040852
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21. Singh, N., Kamath, V., Narasimhamurthy, K., & Rajini, PS (2008). Protective effect of potato peel extract against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in rats. Environmental toxicology and pharmacology, 26(2), 241-246. DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2008.05.006
22. Liu, JM, Wang, SS, Zheng, X., Jin, N., Lu, J., Huang, YT, ... & Wang, FZ (2020). Antimicrobial activity against phytopathogens and inhibitory activity on solanine in potatoes of the endophytic bacteria isolated from potato tubers. Frontiers in microbiology, 11, 570926. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.570926
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Received 04.20.2023 Potato juice is an underrated drink of health and longevity. Top 6 health benefits
Shelestun Anna, nutritionist
Eliseeva Tatyana, editor-in-chief of the project EdaPlus.info E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
Abstract. Potato juice is a unique healing drink that allows you to significantly improve your health and get rid of many diseases without the use of unnecessary and not always useful medicines. In particular, with its help you can improve your gastrointestinal tract, cure gastritis and heartburn and even prevent the development of cancer, as well as improve sleep and calm the nervous system, prolong the beauty and youthfulness of the body.
