A new health trend on TikTok involves putting potato slices in your socks at night with the claim that it will help clear toxins and viruses like the flu from your body. Experts say that there is no evidence that potatoes are an effective method of drawing out toxins or helping people get over an illness faster.
TikTok users claim that in the morning, the potato will turn black, an indication of the toxins coming from your body. However, according to the Idaho potato commission, when a sliced raw potato is exposed to air, it will turn dark. That's because it's going through a process called oxidation.
The new trend, dubbed "potato sock" sees people literally put a slice of raw potato on the bottom of their feet and place a sock over it to secure it overnight. The trend has over 8 billion views on the platform.
If you are wondering why the trick does not work, ask yourselves instead what chance it has of working, seen as potatoes are unable to absorb any substance selectively.
The rules are simple in a potato diet. It is a short-term dietary plan where an individual has to eat only potatoes for three to five days, followed by a week or months, depending on the person's requirement. This extreme eating plan focuses on consuming nothing but cooked potatoes for rapid weight loss.
This process, which is called oxidation, happens because potatoes are a naturally starchy vegetable. And when exposed to oxygen, starches turn gray, brown, or even black. An oxidized potato is completely safe to eat. The process doesn't affect the flavor or texture of the vegetable.
A new health trend on TikTok involves putting potato slices in your socks at night with the claim that it will help clear toxins and viruses like the flu from your body. Experts say that there is no evidence that potatoes are an effective method of drawing out toxins or helping people get over an illness faster.
Place a few slices of raw potato over the infected area holding it in place with tape. Leave it on overnight, and replace with a fresh potato during the day. Depending on the infection it will usually draw out the pus within 1-3 days.
No, Potato Socks shouldn't cause any harm when tried on adults. However, the remedy shouldn't be used on children, even though it widely appears on TikTok. Some people, usually children or babies, may have an adverse reaction to contact with raw, sliced potatoes.
Potatoes Contain Sleep-Supporting Vitamins and Minerals
“They have the right balance of nutrients like potassium and vitamin B6 to stimulate the production of the sleep hormones serotonin and melatonin,” says Scharman Draughon.
Fiber: The fiber in potatoes helps to maintain a healthy digestive system and circulation.
Turns out, potatoes contain nutrients that are beneficial for wound healing, says Dr Jain. They are rich in vitamins C and B6, and potassium as well as fiber. They have natural anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to reduce swelling and ultimately, promote healing.
Potato has natural bleaching property and helps to shed dead cells and brightens skin. Its rich catecholase and antioxidant content helps to fade off spots and pigmentation.
Turns out, it does: "Potatoes can help the skin in main ways," he said. "First, starches soothe inflammation and absorb oil. Second, because potatoes are rich in vitamin C, they can help minimize the risk of developing dark spots as the pimple resolves."
The fermentation reduces glycoalkaloids. The soaking reduces excess starch and the formation of acrylamide, a toxin created by cooking starch.
Adding potato to your skincare routine
Grate half a potato and mix it with 1 tablespoon of gram flour (besan) and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Apply this mask to your face for 15 minutes before removing it with lukewarm water.
Well, potatoes don't pull salt out of anything. They do absorb water, though—and if that water happens to be salty, they'll absorb salty water. But they're not absorbing salt in particular. Potatoes are amazing, but they're not capable of reverse osmosis.
One of the most common ways of fixing overly salty food is to add potatoes. This trick works well for soups, stews, and other similar dishes. Simply add a diced raw potato to the dish—as it cooks, the potato will absorb some of the liquid, including the extra salt.
Raw potatoes contain solanine and lectins, two compounds that can cause gastric distress and potentially make you sick. Additionally, raw potatoes contain resistant starch, which is difficult to digest, and their overall taste and texture is nothing like the potatoes you know and love. When in doubt, cook that potato.
A: You can store peeled potatoes in water in the refrigerator for about 24 hours. Peeled potatoes left out by themselves at room temperature, on a refrigerator shelf or wrapped in foil or plastic wrap will still get dark overnight, so submerge them in a bowl of water, cover and refrigerate.
Are they OK to eat? A: Black spots in potatoes are mostly attributed to internal bruises or the result of sugar concentrations brought on by any of several pre or post-harvest conditions and are generally harmless.