Green Potatoes Are Poisonous To Health?

Tuesday, March 13, 2012, 16:09

According to health science, overeating any food is poisonous to health. Many are into a feeling that green potatoes are unhealthy and contain some toxins that aren't very good for the body. But is the idea true is the big question for the day. Today, we shall be discussing on the effects of green potatoes on health. Take a look.

Effects Of Green Potatoes On Health -

It is said that the leaves of potatoes contain high levels of poison as toxic as nightshade plant. Accordingly, even the green portion of the potatoes is assumed to contain the same toxins found in the leaves. It is also believed that the good potatoes turn green when stored in an improper way.

Eventhough the green pigment is chlorophyll which is not poisonous to health, the pigment when exposed to sun produces a substance called solanine. Solanine is a glycoalkaloid which can become poison if consumed in high levels. But as per the researchers, eating as many as 4-5 pounds of green potatoes can cause some problem to health.

But this doesn't mean that eating a few slices of the green vegetable cannot risk health. The researchers state that to clear even a small amount of Solanine, the body take almost a day long so subsequent accumulation is poisonous.

Ofcourse, there haven't been any deaths across the world due to green potato poisoning but the solanine impact is definitely proved. So, for homemakers who have been wondering whether or not to eat green potatoes our answer would be “No" as it safe to avoid the Solanin vegetable.

Some scientists also argue that Solanin levels don't dependent on the green pigment. They say that normal potatoes (white potatoes) may contain more of the toxin that green ones so color is not the indicator.

A Journal on Agriculture and Food Chemistry states that Solanin concentrates are mostly found in the peels that can be taken off while cooking. So green or white, peel the skin and use the tasty tuber.