Benefits of Potato Juice

Potatoes are categorized as empty carbohydrates, this is far from accurate Nutritionally, potatoes are rich in C, vitamin6, potassium, and manganese. Juicing potatoes efficiently concentrates these nutrients, for quick into the body. Cooking, however, den many of these vitamins. Thus, consuming raw is the most effective way to from the tuber's diverse nutritional profile.

Nutritional Benefits

Potato juice is packed with nutrients. A half-cup serving ensures you are contributing to your daily intake of essential vitamins and minerals.

Vitamin C

Known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C is vital for overall wellness. This antioxidant protects cells from free radicals and is crucial for the health of most body tissues. While often associated with protection against viruses like the flu or cold, vitamin C enhances immune health. It is also linked to improvements in cardiovascular and skin health. A half-cup serving of potato juice provides about 60 milligrams of vitamin C.

Vitamin B6

Beneficial for brain health and weight management, vitamin B6 supports the central nervous system and metabolism. Being water-soluble, the body cannot store this important nutrient, making it essential to consume the daily recommended amount. Potato juice can help you achieve the daily requirement of 1.2 milligrams.

Potassium

Potatoes are rich in potassium, a mineral with numerous benefits. Once absorbed, potassium is distributed among your cells. As an electrolyte, it regulates fluid movement in and out of cells. Although this may seem minor, fluid balance impacts the nervous system, heart health, and muscle function. Consequently, a potassium-rich diet can lower blood pressure, prevent strokes, and decrease sodium levels.

Manganese

Manganese is another crucial mineral for a healthy functioning body. Similar to potassium, we only need trace amounts of manganese from our diets, but, without it, our bone health, metabolisms, and blood sugar levels may suffer. Preliminary research suggests that manganese can help your body regulate insulin.

Nutrients Provide Antioxidants

Aside from a rich nutritional profile, many of the chemicals found in potatoes are antioxidants. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory are two buzzwords in the health food microculture, but what do they really mean?

Antioxidants protect your body’s cells against free radicals. Though “free radicals” sound like something from the ‘60s, they are harmful compounds that damage cells. They are linked to both cardiovascular disease and cancer. As such, antioxidants are critical to keeping your body healthy and vibrant and generally support immune health. Research has revealed a wealth of antioxidants in potato juice (Vitamin C is one of them!).

An Anti-Inflammatory Gold Mine

Anti-inflammatory foods contain immune-boosting compounds that reduce chronic inflammation in your body. Both antioxidants and polyphenols have anti-inflammatory effects. Potato juice contains high amounts of chlorogenic acid, in addition to antioxidants. Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a polyphenol with anti-carcinogenic, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Steps to Prepare Potato Juice

Making potato juice at home is quite simple. There are a few different ways to do it. Of course, if you have an electric vegetable juicer, just pop in the potatoes and turn it on! However, not everyone has a juicer. In that case, it’s simple to juice potatoes manually using the materials found in most kitchens. Here, we provide the steps for that process.

You will need:

• 2-3 Russet Potatoes

• Vegetable Peeler

• Box Grater

• Cheesecloth or linen towel

• Bowl or measuring cup

Steps

1.Peel potatoes. To avoid any potential solanine poisoning, peel the potatoes to expose the flesh. If you’re sure the potatoes have been stored correctly and have no sign of green, feel free to keep the skins on.

2. Grate the potatoes. Turn your potatoes into pulp by grating them in a box grater.

3. Prepare your juicer. If using cheesecloth, fold it over itself several times until it’s thick enough to filter out fine particles. Lay the cloth (or towel) over your bowl or measuring cup, and scoop about a cup of potato pulp into the cloth.

4. Juice the potatoes. Wrap the potato pulp in the cloth and squeeze it into the cup. Work in sections, squeezing one scoop of pulp at a time. Once you’ve wrung out all the juice, discard the pulp and add another scoop until all the pulp has been juiced.

5. Drink. Stir and drink the potato juice immediately. Many of the starches will start to settle at the bottom. This silt contains most of the nutrition benefits, so give it a quick stir and chug it down!

Potato Juice Tips

Alone, potato juice can be quite bitter. If you don’t mind a swig or two of the astringent stuff, then it’s perfectly fine to consume on its own. However, if you like to disguise the less appealing flavors, combine them with carrot and apple juice.

While potato juice has plenty of benefits, it should be used in moderation. When consumed in excess, potato juice can harm the GI tract. Raw potatoes contain a protein called Lectin, which can bind to carbohydrates and make them hard to digest. If you drink too much Lectin, it can cause an upset stomach to the point of vomiting.