Sweet Potato or Yam
There are almost 400 hundred
varieties of sweet potato, including what is commonly known in the
US as a yam. A true yam is the root of the Dioscorea genus of
plants, and the word yam is derived from the African term for the
root, nyami.
All potatoes, including sweet potatoes, originate from South
America, and are one of the oldest vegetables known. Columbus was
the man to introduce the sweet potato to American shores, and
Spanish and Portuguese explorers to other parts of the world.
The biggest producer of sweet potatoes today is China, with
Indonesia, Vietnam and Uganda other countries with large commercial
production.
Health Benefits
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Vitamins
Sweet potatoes are a good source of vitamins C and B6.
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Beta-Carotene
Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of beta-carotene, with the
darker varieties having a higher concentration. Beta-carotene is
converted in the intestine into Vitamin A, which is essential for
normal vision as well as proper bone growth, healthy skin, and
protection of the mucous membranes of the digestive, respiratory,
and urinary tracts against infection. Keratomalacia is an eye
condition resulting from a severe deficiency of Vitamin A. In some
developing countries, vitamin A deficiency in the diet and
associated keratomalacia are a major cause of childhood blindness.
In many developing countries, sweet potato is a secondary staple
food and may play a role in controlling vitamin A
deficiency.
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Glycemic Index
The Glycemic Index (GI) is a scale that ranks carbohydrate-rich
foods by how much they raise blood glucose levels compared to a
standard food. Although different varieties of sweet potato have
different GI values, it is listed in the South beach Diet as having
a low GI of 54. Research has demonstrated that lowering the
glycemic load of the diet appears to be an effective method of
promoting weight loss.
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Diabetes
The white-skinned sweet potato has been shown to improve insulin
sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes. In a study of 18
type 2 diabetic patients, the sweet potato consistently improved
metabolic control by decreasing insulin. These results indicate
that the white-skinned sweet potato could potentially play a role
in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
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