Your wants and preferences are rarely considered when it comes to real survival. Most of the time, survival is about choosing to make the most of bad situations or the less of two evils.
Always, your decisions will be based on necessity. It is important to remember that you might not have the best diet, or even eat food cooked properly.
Look at the potato. Although potatoes are popular, they’re also surprisingly healthy. But can you live on them raw?
You can live on potatoes raw for some time. The potatoes are high in calories and nutrients, but they do not provide a complete diet.
You should not eat raw potatoes as they can cause digestive issues and diarrhea. Green potatoes and any part of the plant are toxic and therefore you shouldn’t eat them.It is a staple food in many cuisines and is a common .
Potatoes can also be cooked in many different ways. However, they should only be eaten in small quantities raw.It is possible to eat a potato that contains toxic substances.Below, I will tell you all you need to survive on potatoes.
Be Careful! Green Potatoes Contain toxic Solanine
You must know that potatoes can be toxic in survival situations. It’s hard to believe but true.
It turns out that potatoes are part of the family nightshade plants. This includes a number of illustrious and dangerous members.
The everyday potatoes you buy at the supermarket are not poisonous (at least, they’re usually safe), but the toxin is present in all parts of this plant.
When the potatoes are protected from light, they don’t produce this toxic substance.
If you look at a potato, you can determine if it’s toxic. Green skin and flesh are signs of solanine. The more green or darker the color is, the worse it is.
You shouldn’t cook it because it will not reduce its toxicity.You should never feed a raw or cooked green potato to any animal.
Solanine can cause nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, migraines and even death in high doses.
Is it possible to survive on raw potatoes?
It is okay to eat raw potatoes as long as they are not green. Raw potatoes are not very tasty and are not digestible.
If you are in a hurry and you need to eat something, you could do worse than a potato.
How long can you survive on cooked potatoes?
You can cook these if you are able to.
The amount of vitamins and mineral in a cooked potato is lower than if it were raw. However, they are more accessible and bioavailable to the body as they will be digestible.
Not for nothing is a cooked potato far more delicious than one that’s raw…
Nutrition Information on Potatoes
The most popular way to eat potatoes is as a side dish. This can be in the form or french fries, hashbrowns, or a simple baked potato. But they’re also surprisingly healthy.
In terms of macro- and micronutrients potatoes are a great option for a survivalist.
Potatoes are a great source of both protein and carbohydrates, which can help you to feel more energetic in the short- and long term.
Vitamin profile is impressive. Most of the B complex vitamins, including vitamin B6, thiamine and riboflavin are present. The mineral content is also good.
There’s a lot of calcium and phosphorus, as well as a large amount of potassium, which is important for cellular functions and electrolyte balance. Other minerals are also present, including copper, manganese and zinc.
The potato can be a lifesaver when you are in a pinch.Potatoes aren’t complete in terms of nutrition and do not provide everything your body requires. We’ll get to that later.
Are Potato Skins Safe to Eat?
It is generally safe, as long as the potato does not turn green. Raw potato skins can cause digestive problems in some people.
You should also check the potato’s skin to see if there are any green spots. Even a good and safe potato can contain toxic substances, which is why you shouldn’t eat it.
Are Potato Roots Safe to Eat?
Not raw or even cooked. You can eat potatoes as a root veggie, but the actual roots, which look like fronds, contain a toxin called solanine.
The plant’s leaves cannot be made safe through cooking, so you should throw them out.
What can you eat from the potato stalk and leaves?
No. No.
It doesn’t matter if you’re hungry or not, consuming these parts raw or cooked will only make things worse for your health and life.
What are the Potatoes?
Today, potatoes are grown all around the globe. Potatoes are not native to Ireland, as many people believe, they actually originate from the Americas. But we’re not here for potato history, just practical facts.
You can plant potatoes almost anywhere, as long as you have the right soil. However, they do best in warmer climates.
You can easily identify safe potatoes if you are familiar with the plants and know how to recognize them. They grow in abundance in commercial farms, small gardens, etc.
Is Eating Potatoes Risky for Health?
Ingesting a high dose of solanine, a toxic substance, can be the single greatest health risk that comes with eating raw potatoes.
It can make you feel miserable but it is manageable. However, if you have severe diarrhea or nausea you may find that your situation becomes more difficult.
As long as you are careful, you should be fine if you avoid green potatoes and any potatos that have been exposed to sunlight.
As mentioned above, potatoes can be eaten raw. However, they will be more digestible if cooked.
Smaller amounts are fine, but larger amounts can be harmful.
Potatoes aren’t nutritionally complete, which is a serious problem for survival situations, especially when food options are limited. They do provide a lot of calories, and some even contain protein.
They contain many of the vitamins and minerals humans require to live.Malnutrition will definitely be an issue in the future if people are forced to survive on potatoes alone.