All About Sweet Potatoes
♥ The sweet potato is not a member of the potato family but rather of the morning glory family.
♥ There are nearly four hundred sweet potato varieties. Their flesh may be white, yellow, or orange, and the thin skin may be white, yellow, orange, red, or purple.
♥ Sweet potatoes are native to Central America. They have been consumed since prehistoric times, making them one of the oldest vegetables known.
♥ In the mid-twentieth century, the orange-fleshed sweet potato was introduced to the United States and given the name “yam” to distinguish it from the white-fleshed sweet potato to which most people were accustomed.
♥ Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of carotenes. In general, the darker the variety of sweet potato, the higher the concentration of carotenes.
♥ Sweet potatoes are also a very good source of vitamins C and B6.
♥ Sweet potatoes are a good source of manganese, copper, biotin, pantothenic acid and vitamin B2.
♥ Sweet potatoes contain phytochemicals like quercetin, a powerful anti-inflammatory, and chlorogenic acid, an antioxidant.
♥ A 3 ½-ounce, 100 gram, serving provides 90 calories, 2 grams of protein, 21 grams of carbohydrate, 3 grams of fiber and 8 grams of sugar.
Sweet Potatoes and Blood Sugar
As a long-time low-carber and someone who had insulin resistance, I still enjoy sweet potatoes on occasion. More specifically, I am strategic about when I eat this starchy vegetable, typically after a heavy strength training workout or a sprint workout that is more demanding of my glycogen stores. Even on days when I incorporate a sweet potato into my meals, my overall carbohydrate load for the day falls well within what is considered low-carb. Did you know that even Dr. Atkins recommended 60-90 grams of carbohydrates a day for regular exercisers?
“The impact of food on blood sugar is of great concern to those trying to lose weight, and of even greater concern for those with either diabetes or metabolic syndrome. If blood sugar control is an issue for you, either because of stubborn weight problems or because of medical ones like diabetes, the glycemic impact of this delicious potato needs to be taken into account. Whether it's a great food for you or not depends on your situation.” Source
Ingredients
- 7 oz. Sweet Potato
- 1 Tbsp. Bacon Grease
- Celtic Sea Salt
Directions
- Using a veggie spiralizer, make sweet potato spaghetti.
- In cast iron skillet, over medium-high heat, melt bacon grease.
- Add sweet potato spaghetti and cook until desired tenderness.
- Sprinkle with Celtic sea salt to taste.
- Enjoy.
This post was submitted to Allergy Free Wednesdays.
