When you think about a potato, the very first thought that might come to mind is potato chips. Yes, that unhealthy bag of chips loaded with saturated fats and heaps of salt. Potato chips have become a comfort food for many people and are amongst the top food choices for many people who are overweight or obese, as reported by Livestrong. Potato chips, or crisps as they are sometimes called, are not the only form in which we can enjoy a potato. There are many other ways to use a potato. Baked potatoes and mashed potatoes are only two simple examples of alternative uses that do not include preparing the vegetable in such a way that it would be loaded with unhealthy substances. Unfortunately, the use of a potato is often associated with potato chips and people tend to forget that there are other ways to use this particular type of vegetable.
Potatoes are a starchy food and they are certainly not an unhealthy choice. These vegetables grow underground and form part of the Solanum Tuberosum’s roots. Potatoes are part of the nightshade vegetable family, similar to tomatoes. Authority Nutrition reports that potatoes are particularly high in vitamin D and potassium. Apart from these nutrients, this vegetable also contains calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, copper, manganese, vitamin B1, vitamin B3, vitamin B6, folate, choline and many other vitamins and minerals. You can even get a healthy dose of important amino acids from a potato! These vitamins are not only essential for keeping the body working, but can also be beneficial for improving brain function, reducing facial wrinkles and even to boost your physical performance.
Potatoes For Health And Beauty
While you may be used to eating a potato in the form of a chip, mashed or as a baked food, today we would like to introduce some other uses for the common potato. This particular vegetable has been used in the beauty routines of many people in the past and they possess powerful properties that can offer you numerous benefits when it comes to several areas of your body, including your skin. We are going to tell you about six ways you can use potatoes in your daily life – apart from eating them, that is.
1. Dark Spot Treatment
While we’re talking about the skin brightening effects of a potato, we should also mention that this vegetable can be used to fade dark spots on your face and the rest of your body. While the dark spots may not completely go away during the first application, continued use of this natural remedy will help to fade them gradually. You can follow the same method as in the dark circle treatment regimen, but place the potato slices directly on the dark spots. Another excellent method for treatment dark spots with potatoes is to peel potatoes, use a blender to blend them, and then apply the blended pulp on your dark spots.
2. Dark Circle Treatment
If you suffer from bags under eyes, then you will love the first tip we have to share. Potatoes contain a natural compound that can act as a skin brightening treatment. This means that you can finally get rid of those dark circles around your eyes without having to spend hundreds of dollars on an expensive treatment. Livestrong recommends placing slices of chilled potato on both of your eyes for approximately 10 minutes. They report that results should be instant, which means you’ll start to see a difference from the very first treatment.
3. Skin Brightening Treatment
One final mention of the powerful brightening effects of potatoes – you can not only use potatoes as a way to fade away dark circles around your eyes and dark spots on your body, but also as a way to make your skin lighter. Speedy Remedies recommend mixing some potato juice with lemon juice, and applying the mixture to your skin for approximately 10 minutes. If your skin tends to be dry, then add some honey to the mixture to ensure your skin does not dry out during the treatment.
4. Dead Cell Treatment
Our skin is always producing new cells and old, dead skin cells are rising to the surface as new ones are produced. If you do not use a product to help you remove these dead skin cells, it may cause an unpleasant appearance on your skin. Once again, potatoes come to the rescue as they contain powerful substances that can help to remove the dead skin cells that have accumulated on your face. Simply apply some grated potatoes to your face and leave it on for approximately 10 minutes. Rinse off your face with clean water and the dead skin cells will be washed away too.
5. Itching Skin Treatment
Thus far, we have only discussed the beauty benefits of potatoes, but let’s also consider another way that potatoes can come in handy – by providing relief of itching skin. Skin can become itchy due to irritation, insect bites and many other reasons, and this sensation can be uncomfortable. To treat itching skin with a potato, simply apply a raw potato slice to the area that is feeling itchy. You can keep the potato slice on the affected region of your body for a couple of minutes and repeat the process during the day until the itching sensation has subsided.
6. Healthy Hair Treatment
Finally, we should also mention that you can use this particular vegetable to achieve healthy, shiny hair without paying a fortune for professional hair care products. To make a potato hair treatment, you need to grate a potato and squeeze the water contents out of the grated parts. The drained water should then be mixed with some lemon juice and an egg, then massaged into your scalp. Since this is a mask, you need to let it work its magic for about 20 minutes before rinsing it off. Be sure to shampoo afterward and to make sure you wash out all traces of the treatment.
Conclusion
Potatoes might be the main ingredient in some unhealthy snacks, but that certainly does not mean potatoes are an unhealthy type of vegetable. In fact, these vegetables are high in numerous vitamins, minerals and amino acids that our bodies need to survive. The six tips we’ve shared with you today will give new meaning to the common potato and help you utilize the benefits of potato for your own health and beauty regimen.
References:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/419315-foods-that-obese-people-eat/
https://authoritynutrition.com/foods/potatoes/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/85039-use-raw-potatoes-dark-circles/
http://www.speedyremedies.com/potato-beauty-remedies-for-bleaching-the-skin.html
Author Bio: Ella James is an independent researcher and writer. She has contributed to many online websites related to general health and fitness. Her interests include reading and writing about day-to-day health, fitness, and skin care problems. Connect with her on Facebook, and Twitter
