PERKS OF A POTATO

Potato is generally thought of as a comfort food with insignificant benefits. But little do we know about how versatile these nutritious spuds can be.

Apart from being delicious when cooked, potatoes are loaded with several nutrients and also boost up your immunity. However, of late the cosmetic benefits of potatoes have also been recognized. Let’s learn about both.

Added bonus: Being the most popular vegetable in our homes, they’re always at our disposal.

Pretty Peepers

If you run out of cucumbers, you always have a potato. Use it to naturally brighten up dark circles. Simply peel and slice a potato in wedges. Place them in a cool washcloth and let them sit over the eyes for 20 minutes and rinse. If you woke up to puffy eyes, pop refrigerated potato slices over your eyes for instant soothing and de-puffing.

Redressing your Tresses

Stimulate your hair growth using this simple recipe: Combine 3 tbsp potato juice, 2 tbsp aloe vera gel and 1 tbsp honey. Massage into the scalp then comb through to the ends. You can leave on up to an hour, depending on the damage, and then rinse thoroughly.
Polishing your skin

Facial Bleach: Mash a potato into fine paste and mix it with 1 tbsp of lemon juice. Apply this paste on the face. Rinse it off after 10-15 minutes. It works as the natural facial bleach and lightens the dark skin complexion.
Sunburn salve: This is an old trick which works as a miracle, to help out burnt shoulders or any other part of your body. Placing cold potato slices on the painful burnt skin helps soothe and also takes the sting out. Alternatively you can use potato juice as well. It also helps diminishing your suntan.
Heart Healthy

Maintain blood pressure: Bananas are famous for their potassium content that helps control our blood pressure. But a regular baked potato has twice as much the content having 20 percent. When you eat a potassium-rich diet, the body becomes more efficient at getting rid of excess sodium which is responsible for raising blood pressure. But watch how you cook them; slicing potatoes into cubes before boiling can reduce potassium by 75 percent. The best way to maintain it is to bake with the skin on.

Healthilicious Recipe: In order to bake the potatoes, rub them with olive oil, sprinkle them with salt and pepper, and prick them with the tines of a fork. Place all the potatoes on a microwave-safe dish and microwave at full power for five minutes. Split and sprinkle them with one of your herb blends, or top with a dollop of low-fat or fat-free sour cream and chopped chives for a delicious, guilt-free meal or side dish.
Getting good skin and health doesn’t require spending hoards, it could be as easy as grabbing a potato from the kitchen after all.