I am more

g ood
than
bad
Shobs

I
am more good than ‘Potato is not good for health’ is a wrong notion. It
bad. My name is
potato. In one way I contains lot of nutritional values. But it all
am one of the oldest depends on how one eats it and what are the other
and in another
sense I am one of the latest. In the
ingredients that are added to it that determines its
ancient ruins of Peru and Chile, good or ill effects on one's health.
archaeologists have found my
remains that date back to 500 B.C.
In October 1995, I became the first
vegetable to be grown in space. dead. They used to stash me in plant and eat me or their noses
NASA and the University of concealed bins for use during war would be cut off. Sir Walter
Wisconsin, Madison, created the or famine. The Incas called Raleigh introduced me to Ireland
technology with the goal of me in
feeding astronauts on long space 'papas'. Believe me, this is the Inca 1589 by planting me on 40,000
voyages, and eventually, feeding prayer. “O Creator! Thou who acres of land that was given to him
future space colonies. So, the
givest life to all things and hast by Queen Elizabeth I.
next time you hold me in your made men that they may live, and In 1853 railroad m a
hand remember you are not just multiply. Multiply also the fruits g n a t e Commodore Cornelius
holding a vegetable, but a piece of
of the earth, the potatoes and Vanderbilt complained that his
history. other food that thou hast made, potatoes (that's me) were cut too
The Inca Indians in Peru were the that men may not suffer from thick and sent me back to the
first to cultivate me. They were hunger and misery.” kitchen at a fashionable resort in
impressed by my ruggedness, Of course, I also have some Saratoga Springs, New York.
storage quality and nutritional idiosyncrasies associated with me. To spite his haughty guest, Chef
value. The Incas not only grew The German King Frederick George Crum sliced some
and ate me, but also worshipped William realised I was a good food potatoes (again that's me) paper
me. They even buried me with source and ordered peasants to thin, fried me in hot oil, salted me
their and served me in a new form. To
o c to be r2 00 7
46

everyone's surprise, Vanderbilt
loved his 'Saratoga Crunch Chips',
and I, in the name of 'potato chips',
have not only became very popular
ever since, but today I have
become a multicrore industry.
With time, I have become one of
the major foodstuff of the world.
My road was no bed of roses; I did
have lots of bumps in the road.
People understood my
drawbacks more often than my
advantage. People considered me
poisonous. People experienced
disastrous potato blight. Blight
is basically a disease. This terrible
disease within me was caused by a
fungus. With this came my
devastation throughout Europe.
Much later, a French botanist
found an effective fungicide
during
1880's. Yes,accepted
and widely I was saved.
in theThanks
world
to
thereafter. Today I am very
the botanist, I became so
popular
common, plentiful and pervasive
in the diet that I am taken for
granted.
Basically I am a weedy plant
recognised for my tuberous
growth. I am from a family of
nightshade a n d my leave
s a r e i n d e e d poisonous. I
come in hundreds of varieties and
in many sizes, shapes
H ealthG lance
and colours. But despite the feel guilty about including me in
differences, the fact remains we all your treats.
have same nutritional value. I am fuss-free and lend myself to
Over the years I have earned a be transformed magically into
very bad name - so much so that the tastiest of dishes. I definitely
they think of me and say I am do not have to tell you how tasty I
fattening. The problem is not me, am. If there is one universally
but it's the way you prepare me. liked and readily available,
A few, handful of and is an economical
potato chips has the same number ingredient, it is me. I am so
of calories as two medium- sized, versatile that you can serve me
baked potatoes topped with zero- with any dish of yours. In
fat yogurt and steamed various dishes I am used as a
vegetables. Those of you who binding agent. I am available all
enjoy adding oil to me, topping me through the year. I represent
with cheese, frying and deep- excellent value for money. Studies
frying till you see the dark brown reveal that I am cool, delicious,
crust, French fries and other heavy and dry, and have energising
buttered stuff - now, you are in qualities. Do you know that I am
trouble. Actually, it is these one of the most nutritious staple
combinations which make you crops discovered by man?
suffer. That's bad for you and I am absorbed by your body within
your blood stream which will two and half hours of eating me.
lead to many diseases. Of course, Talking about my nutritional
because of my high carbohydrate properties, I contain more
content, diabetic people should potassium than a banana. I contain
avoid me. nearly half of the recommended
I am here to remind you that by daily intake of Vitamin C. I am
nature I am fat-free and one of the best sources of
cholesterol- free. I am essentially carbohydrates, the body's best
here to clarify that I am not energy source. I have ample
fattening you. I am healthy and supply of Vitamin B6, which helps
nutritious depending upon your to bolster immunity. I contain as
preparation. The good news is much fibre as a 1/3 cup serving of
that you no more have to
G ood
Health
 H ealthG lance

Over the years I have earned a very bad

name - so much so that they think of me
and say I am fattening. The problem is not
me, but it's the way you prepa re me. A
few, handful of potato chips has the same
number of calories as two medium-sized,
baked potatoes topped with zero-fat
yogurt and steamed vegetables.
oat bran. I am a very good source of zinc, iron, disturbances including nausea, vomiting, and
phosphorous and magnesium. I am low in calories diarrhoea, and cause haemolytic and hemorrhagic
and fat as well as sodium, and I am cholesterol-free. damage to the gastrointestinal tract. That's why you
I am need to be careful while eating me with the skin.
80% water. All virtues of cereals are imbibed in
I am very useful to you. But I have my conditions.
me. The nutrients in me are easily digestible. The
If you adhere to them, I will do all the good to
best way to have me is to take me with my skin.
your health. If not, you might lose my vital
My skin is a good source of fibre and potassium.
properties. You should cut me only when you
Scurvy in Europe has become more and more require me. If I am left cut for a long time, I lose my
uncommon with my increase. My juice gives good vitamin C content. If you peel me before I am
relief to the patients suffering from duodenal ulcers. steamed or boiled, my nutrients are lost. I am very
There have been encouraging results in several skin choosy about my place - I need to be kept in dark but
diseases especially eczema. I am an alkaline food dry place. I should not be stored in the fridge as my
which means I am good for people suffering from flavour will change. I shouldn't be kept close to
hyperacidity. In beauty care, my face packs are good onions as gases released by the onions can increase
for the dry pigmented skin. my decay.
I do have some disagreeable traits. If left for a long Boil, bake, and steam me. I can be a valuable
time, I begin to turn green. Greening is caused when adjunct to a balanced diet. That's the
I am exposed to light and it is poisonous. You truth. The positives weigh well above
must refrain from eating when I am damaged or turn my negative qualities. I am in your hands; you can
green in colour. This can create make me good or bad for you. Please then don't
gastrointestinal blame me if people call you couch potatoes!!

W h atA y urv e d ah a sto s a ya b o u tPo ta to ?

- Dr. M o n ic aC h itn a v is ,
Prakriti Ayurvedic Natural
Rejuvenation Centre

Ayurvedaconsidersm e as B rihanami.e., , w hich is good to build up the body tissues. I am considered

goodas longas a pe rsonis he althy, bu t in a n u nh ea lth bo y dyI sh ou ldn o t b e in clud e d .I in crea sethe va ta
a ndth e kap hao f th e body. S o I should n o t b e c o n s u m e dw h e nth e rea re d is e a s eso f skin a n djo in ts . A s
I a m a little h e av y to digest, it is b e tte r I am avo id edin a n unhealthybody. S ince m y qualities
changeaccordingto the climatic conditions,I do not crea teproblem sin e xtrem eclim ates,but I do
createproblem sin h um idclim a tes. O f cou rse,I am u sefu lto re m oveb le m ish es. I a m a lso use fu lin
the raw form for e x tern al applications,in treatingsw ellingan d disorderedconditionsof the joints and
muscles.

o c to be r2 00 7
48