SWEET POTATO - VEGETABLE OF THE WEEK

Sweet Potatoes are great vegetables that you can do so much with. You can eat them raw, they make a great snack. You can boil them and eat with tea, fry them up and make Sweet Potato Fries, bake them into pies, bread and even cake. You can add them to salads and even mash them up for a great dip. Being a vegetable, the sweet potato should not be overcooked as it will loose its flavour and nutrients. Many varieties of sweet potatoes are available, but three can usually be found in any local supermarket. The first type is called the Covington sweet potato, which is a favorite for mashing or roasting. This particular variety has rose-colored skin, with very sweet orange flesh. The second one is the O’Henrysweet potato. This one is a little unusual in that it more resembles an Irish potato, with a pale copper-colored skin and white flesh, which tastes sweet and creamy, making it a perfect candidate to be used in soups and stews. Third type we have the Japanese sweet potato, with its prominent red skin and dry white flesh. This type of potato is commonly roasted and used as a side dish or a snack. Sweet potatoes are High in Manganese.

Manganese is important for the performance of enzymes in our body that metabolize carbs, proteins, and fats.The brightly colored orange flesh of a sweet potato is not only its signature trademark but also carries with it much of the health benefits that sweet potatoes are known for. Most significantly, sweet potatoes are fantastic sources of pro-vitamin A and beta-carotene. Sweet potatoes Help with Digestive System. About 23% of fiber in Sweet potatoes is soluble, which acts by helping you feel full in much the same way as protein works in your body. Most of sweet potato’s fiber, however, which is insoluble fiber, allows your digestive system to run smoothly and efficiently by adding weight to your body’s waste. Doing so allows that waste to pass through your system much quicker and easier. Most of the fiber in sweet potatoes comes from the skin, so if you want to reap the most fiber benefits from this food, be sure to leave the skin on when you are eating it. Sweet potatoes help maintain healthy teeth and gums due to the vegetable’s rich vitamin C is highly important for gum and teeth maintenance. Source