The Situation? Sweet Potato!

We've mentioned orange vegetables several times, and their great importance in strengthening the digestive system and other medicinal properties. This time, I would like to focus specifically on the sweet potato.

Sweet potato is a very nutritious and tasty starchy vegetable. But beyond that, sweet potatoes offer many benefits that make them highly recommended for consumption. They are rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, and contain various minerals, such as manganese (a fairly rare mineral important for the functioning of various systems, such as the brain and nervous system), potassium, and copper. They also contain the amino acid 'tryptophan' which helps relieve stress and anxiety, aids in deep sleep, and reduces symptoms of depression. Sweet potatoes have antioxidant (toxin-neutralizing) and anti-inflammatory properties, with beta-carotene being the primary component.

It is commonly believed that since sweet potatoes are sweet, one should be cautious in eating them. However, the surprising truth is quite the opposite. Sweet potatoes contain a substance called "adiponectin" that protects against the development of diabetes by increasing the body's sensitivity to insulin. Studies have shown that the risk of developing diabetes increases as adiponectin levels decrease. Also, sweet potatoes are low in calories and contain no saturated fats or cholesterol, and importantly, they belong to the "complex carbohydrates" category, which raises blood sugar levels slower than other sugars (relatively low glycemic index). Therefore, diabetics can consume them (it's always advisable for diabetics to check their blood sugar levels after eating sweet potatoes) and it's preferable to consume sweet potatoes over regular potatoes.

It's best to eat sweet potatoes baked with the peel, or at least peel them after baking. A recommended recipe for eating sweet potatoes is to slice them, drizzle with olive oil, tahini, or eat with avocado and herbs. You can even combine sweet potatoes with an orange soup also containing carrots, pumpkin, butternut squash, and orange lentils.