PO - TA - TOES

PO - TA - TOES

Potato is known as Solanum tuberosum which is a starchy, tuberous crop.
Wild potato was found from United States to Uruguay and Peru. At later years potato was introduced to Europe in 1536, and was the first vegetable inherited by the Early Australians, the Aborigines. And now, the largest potato crops that lead throughout the world are China.

The English word potato is obtained from Spanish “patata”.

Potatoes contain vitamins and minerals that are vital to human nutrition. Potatoes also contain an assortment of phytochemicals, such as carotenoids and polyphenols. What is best know from the potato is their carbohydrate content, which is starch.

Carotenoids, organic pigments which are naturally occurred in the chloroplasts and chromoplasts of plants and other photosynthetic organisms (algae). Carotenoids also can act as antioxidants.

Polyphenols, a group of chemical substances that characterized by the presence of more than one phenol. In some research, polyphenols may have antioxidant characteristics tha is potential for health benefits, because they may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Side question :Did you know that potatoes are used to brew alcoholic beverages such as vodka?

WE -- NEE -- GERR

WE -- NEE -- GERR

(Vinegar)



Vinegar was used since ancient times and it’s an important element in European, Asian, and other traditional cuisines of the world. It was derived from the Old French vin aigre, which means “sour wine”.

Vinegar is an acidic liquid (acetic acid / ethanoic acid), which is processed from the fermentation of ethanol. For a table vinegar, the acetic acid concentration ranges from 4% to 8% by the volume. As for pickling, the concentration of the acetic acid is much higher which around to 18% by volume. In natural vinegar, it also contain small amount of tartaric acid, citric acid and other acids as well.





Chemical compound:

Acetic acid, also known as ethanoic acid, gives vinegar its cour taste and pungent smell. It is produced both synthetically and by bacterial fermentation.




Medical uses:

Vinegar popularly believed to be effective against infections. During Hippocrates time, who lived between 460 – 377 BC, prescribed that vinegar can be cure persistent cough.

Another one is applying vinegar to the areas that had been stung by jellyfish ( except to Portuguese man o' war stings), which deactivates the nematocysts. Instead of using vinegar, the affected areas must be placed in hot water because the venom of the jellyfish is deactivated by heat. The latter requires immersion in 45 °C water for at least 4 minutes for the pain to reduce. Though is faster using vinegar, but the steps taken can relieve pain better. This shows that, we can use vinegar when it’s urgent.

Furthermore, Vinegar also have the ability to assist in restoring the body’s alkaline pH, increase the absoroption of calcium, and kill harmful bacteria. Besides that, vinegar also control dandruff since it restores the proper pH levels to the scalp and kills any clogging bacteria.

Zingiber Officinale to What is known as Ginger

Zingiber Officinale to What is known as Ginger

Ginger is a tuber. It also can be consumed whole as a delicacy, medicine or as spice for cooking or tea. It is an underground stem of the ginger plant, Zingiber Officinale. Ginger was originated in Asia, now can be found in India, Southeast Asia, West Africa and the Caribbean.

Medical uses:
The medical form of ginger is called as “Jamaica Ginger”. It was classified as a stimulant and carminative, and was used frequently for dyspepsia and colic. Ginger is generally recognized as safe in the list of FDA since it does interact with some medications, including warfarin.

Ginger promotes the release of bile from the gallbladder which contraindicated in people suffering from gallstones. Ginger also does decrease joint pain from arthritis (studies on this matter have been inconsistent), and may have blood thinning and cholesterol lowering properties that may be useful for treating heart disease.

Diarrhea is the leading cause of infant death in developing countries which ginger compounds are active against it, since Zingerone is likely to be active constituent against enterotoxigenic and Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin-induced diarrhea.

Nausea, caused by seasickness, morning sickness and chemotherapy, can be treated with ginger since ginger has been found effective in multiple studies for treating nausea.

Chemical in Ginger:

1. Gingerol is a relative of capsaicin, the compound that gives chile peppers their spiciness, which can be found in ginger. Cooking it will transform gingerol into zingerone, which is less pungent and has a spicy-sweet aroma.

Gingerol is the compound that reduce nausea (caused by motion sickness or pregnancy) and may also relieve migraine.
As for the animals tested in the lab, gingerol also increase motility of the gastrointestinal tract, and also have analgestic, sedative, antipyretic and anti-bacterial properties.

2. Zingerone, also known as vanillyacetone, the principal organic compound which gives the pungent taste of the ginger. Zingerone can be obtain after cooking the ginger, which is responsible for the antidiarrheal efficacy of ginger.

3. Shogaol is a pungent constituent of ginger similar chemical structure to gingerol. Just like zingerone, can be obtain when the ginger is dried or cooked.

The name “shogaol” is derived from the Japanese name for ginger (生姜、shōga).

Side question:

Does ginger bread man made ginger bread sound?