Let’s talk about potatoes. No, not potato chips, no, not the French-fries neither, potatoes, good ole potatoes. Potatoes are the number one vegetable crop in the world! It is easy to harvest and is available all year around. They belong to the Solanaceae family. Tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, and tomatillos are also members of this family. They are the swollen portion of the underground stem called a tuber which provides food for the part of the plant above soil. These are probably some of the reasons why potatoes are so rich in nutrient content. One serving of potatoes offer 15% and more of the daily requirement of vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium, tryptophan, manganese and dietary fiber. Potatoes also have anticancer substances. They contain a variety of phytonutrients and powerful antioxidants. Some of these health-promoting compounds are carotenoids, flavonoids, and caffeic acid, as well as patatin which exhibit free radical activity. But what about the prettier potato, which many of us still, hasn’t met yet. It is the purple potato.
"The purple potato is native to the Lake Titicaca within the high plains and mountain slopes of Peru and Bolivia. They are among thousands of varieties that have been cultivated for nearly 8000 years in the Andean regions of Peru, Boliva, and Ecuador. The diversity of purple potato varieties, their resistance to disease and ability to withstand harsh conditions has allowed them to evolve for thousands of years into a 21st century food crop. Purple potatoes are cultivated in potato growing regions of South America, North America and Europe. "
It features all of these benefits of a white-fleshed potato but rich in one antioxidant white-fleshed potatoes lack. It is the antioxidant that purple potatoes are rich in, anthocyanin. It is a flavonoid mostly found in blue, red and purple produce and has been shown to be an immune system booster and aid in the prevention of most cancers. The purple potato’s nutritional value and energy rich properties helped explode its popularity in the late 20th and early 21st century. It has extremely high quantities of vitamins, antioxidants, and proteins propelling it to be what I call a super potato. So find out which one of your local produce markets carries it and enjoy it’s many health benefits today!
http://www.specialtyproduce.com/produce … es_641.php
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