New Delhi, September 17 (IANS). People consider potato as the king of vegetables. It is often seen that when there is no vegetable in the house, people make potato curry. Potato is used in making many types of dishes which are the favorite dish of most people. If you consume potato in the right way in food, then it is very beneficial for health.
Apart from the taste of potato, it also has many benefits. It contains many medicinal properties like Vitamin C, B complex, iron, calcium, manganese and phosphorus. Potato is a good source of iron, which helps in removing oxygen deficiency in the body. Calcium makes bones strong. Manganese helps in activating enzymes in the body.
Carotenoids and vitamin C present in potatoes increase immunity. Raw potato juice can help in treating arthritis. If your skin burns anywhere on the body, then grinding raw potatoes and applying them provides relief.
Many types of dishes are made from potatoes. Potato dishes like vada pav, chaat, potato stuffed kachori, chips, papad, French fries, samosa, tikki and chokha are common in many areas of India. Apart from this, people also like to eat potato dishes mixed with almost every vegetable.
The history of potato is quite old and interesting. It has been cultivated in Peru of South America for about seven thousand years. Potato cultivation first started in central Peru. At that time, the name of potato there was ‘Kamata’ and ‘Batata’. Spain brought it to Europe in the 16th century, where it was named ‘Potato’.
Potato came to India with European traders. European traders brought potatoes to India for trade in the 15th century. Initially, there were three varieties of it – Phulwa, Gola and Satha. Potato is called the king of vegetables in India and it is available in the market throughout the year. India ranks third in potato production after China and Russia.
–IANS
RK/AKJ
