Some Amazing Facts About Sweet Potatoes
The sweet potato is not actually a potato, or a yam. It is a nutritionally superior and versatile tuber that has a unique and distinctively sweet flavor. Here are some of the benefits of this delicious vegetable:
- High Nutritional ValueSweet potatoes are an excellent source of starch and therefore, energy. They provide some protein, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and a huge amount of carotenoids, including Beta-carotene. It is these and otherphytochemicals in the tubers that make them such a powerful anti-cancer food. A mere 100g a day has been found to dramatically reduce the risk of lung cancer.
- Low glycemic indexThe glycemic index indicates the impact a food substance has on blood sugar levels. A high glycemic index means blood sugar levels can spike. diabetesand others who monitor their blood sugar levels seek to avoid foods with a high glycemic index or load. Sweetpotatoes have a glycemic load of only 17, in comparison to a white potato, which has an index of 29. Their high vitamin B6 content also helps to keep bloodsugar levels steady, helping to prevent mood swings and relieve depression. Recent research indicates that steaming or boiling sweet potatoes rather than roasting them helps to preserve their low glycemic index.
- Good For Your skinTheir high levels of Vitamin E means sweet potatoes are a skin superfood. Orange-skinned sweet potatoes are rich in the anti-aging, antioixidant Beta-carotene, which is stored in the fat layer of our skin and protects against the damage from the sun's ultraviolet rays.
- A Versatile VegetableSweet potatoes are extremely versatile and make a wonderful health food for both children and adults alike. They can be boiled and mashed, roasted, or even juiced.
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