No matter whether you toast them, bake them or add them to soups, top them with eggs, or just simply coat them with olive oil and sprinkle your favourite seasonings over it- sweet potatoes are easy to include in your diet. And they are as healthy as they are tasty and versatile.
A great source of nourishing vitamins, minerals, and fibre, sweet potatoes are full of nutrition.
Origin of Sweet Potato
Sweet potatoes are one of the oldest foods known to humans. They are native to South and Central America. We have evidence that sweet potatoes were growing around 35 million years ago in America. But very recently, scientists found 57-year-old fossils in India that was the ancient morning glory leaves. This could surpass the American claim as the original source of sweet potato was nearly 22 million years. Whenever and wherever they originated, and however, they have travelled around the world, we should be thankful that we have sweet potatoes in our lives.
How many types of sweet potatoes exist?
While most of the supermarkets carry one or more types of sweet potatoes, in the United States around 25 varieties are found. And you will be surprised to know that this represents just a small fraction of the total varieties of sweet potatoes.
Sweet potatoes vary in colour and size. They vary in colour ranging from dark red to brown to purple to the orange-yellow or white. They are of different sizes, tastes, textures, and shapes.
Health benefits of sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes contain a lot of nutrients. They consist of beta carotene, which is converted into Vitamin A by the human body. Vitamin A is an antioxidant that promotes the functioning of the brain, healthy and glowing skin, and powerful vision. Vitamin A also supports kidney, lung, and heart functions.
Sweet potatoes also offer Vitamin C and Vitamin B6, which have powerful health benefits. Vitamin B6 strengthens brain development in kids and brain functioning in adults. B6 also assists the body to produce serotonin, a hormone that regulates the mood and assists in coping with the stress.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that safeguards your cells from the free radicals. Moreover, sweet potatoes are high in potassium, which assists in regulating blood pressure and improves the functioning of the kidney too. Potassium also helps in maintaining your metabolism, muscles, and level of hydration.
How to cook sweet potatoes
The evidence is clear that sweet potatoes are very nutritious- and here are a few ways how you can include them in your daily diet.
You can make this starchy, versatile root vegetable in varieties of ways, including grilling, baking, roasting, boiling or steaming. Here are a few tips to follow so that you can get the most of the nutrition out of the sweet potatoes.
Try steaming: It is one of the effective ways to cook sweet potatoes and retain most of the essential nutrients. Steaming also helps in avoiding excess heat that can affect the nutrients.
Baking: Baking is possibly the most common way to prepare sweet potatoes. Though the high temperatures of baking can affect the essential nutritional value, baking does not need any extra high-calorie oils or fats.
Keep a check on the fat: If you prepare sweet potatoes with fats, select healthy alternatives like olive oil instead of butter. Sweet potatoes consist of no cholesterol or saturated fats- so avoid adding it! And their naturally sweet taste can satisfy your sweet tooth without adding any extra syrup or sugar.