I want you to close your eyes and think of all the healthy foods you love – I know I’m thinking of mangoes, watermelon, crisp apples, passion fruit, potato salad…
I know, you’re thinking, “Hold up! Potatoes aren’t a healthy food. I’ve been told for years that potatoes are filled with unhealthy starches and lead to obesity, diabetes, and chronic inflammation!” Potatoes don’t have a great reputation in recent standard dietary guidelines and in mainstream thinking about diets. Many people eliminate white foods from their diet, such as enriched white flour and rice also lump potatoes in that group of white foods, but that is very inaccurate. In fact, the potato in its whole form is actually one of the healthiest foods you can eat!
Potatoes are naturally free of fat, sodium, and cholesterol while being high in antioxidants, fiber, and macro-nutrients. They have more potassium than a banana and plenty of vitamin C and B6. What really makes potatoes so healthy and beneficial is that they are naturally anti-viral and high in lysine.
Lysine is an essential amino acid that is absolutely necessary to good health yet, the body is not able to produce it. Like all essential amino acids, lysine is not naturally produced by the body and must be added through food.
Lysine is responsible for several necessary functions, including:
- Healing injuries and burns
- Protecting against cancers
- Preventing “autoimmune” a.k.a. viral attack disorders
- Healing inflammation (due to viruses)
- Building and repairing muscles
- Helping nerves
- Decreasing anxiety
- Stopping viral replication
Because you can only get lysine through food, you may be deficient in this necessary amino acid if you have been avoiding potatoes, thinking they were bad for you.
Potatoes are only as unhealthy as you make them. A baked potato covered in butter, sour cream, cheese, and bacon – anything covered in those items will be bad for you! It’s not the potato’s fault! Its usually what you put ON the potatoes that is bad for you.
Instead, if you use potatoes in healthy ways and lift up the flavor with delicious, nutritious ingredients, you can get all of the amazing vitamins, nutrients, and essential amino acids integrated into your diet.
My kids favorite potato recipe is my Summer Potato Salad recipe! I know, we don’t usually recognize potato salad for its healthy properties, but again, it all depends on the choices of toppings you use it with. This potato salad not only tastes amazing, its actually going to help your underlying viral condition. And if you don’t have one, then just enjoy a dish with flavor and that uplifts your health.
Summer Potato Salad Recipe
- 10 small – medium potatoes
- 5 stalks celery
- 1 red bell pepper
- 3 stalks, green onions
Dressing Ingredients
- 1 tbsp mustard powder
- 1 cup soaked cashews
- 1/2 clove garlic
- 1/2 cup scallions
- 1 lemon (juiced)
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 pinch sea salt (or more as desired)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
Directions:
Steam the potatoes and smash them into chunks. While the potatoes are steaming, chop the celery stalks and red bell pepper into small pieces, and finely slice the green onions. Once your potatoes are cooked, smashed, and cooled, add the vegetables.
To make the dressing, except for the scallions (which are not blended) just add dressing recipe in to your blender, and blend until smooth. Stir gently into your potato mixture, cover, and chill for at least one hour or up to overnight to let the flavors develop. Once you serve, garnish with scallions on top.
Easy, right?! Not only is this potato salad packed with amazing, healthy ingredients, but it is absolutely delicious! The first time I made this it was GONE in 30 minutes. Kids and adults both love this potato salad, and it’s absolutely perfect for a gathering or a party.
I want to encourage you to not only eat nutritious, healing food, but I also want you to take JOY in it! While the primary goal of food is to fuel and nourish our bodies, we should be able to enjoy our meals, share them with loved ones, and nourish our spirits.
Feel good while you are preparing it, put love into it as you make food for yourself and your loved ones. That love will come through with each nourishing bite!
