Sweet potatoes, also known as yams, tubers, mountain yams, and red potatoes, were introduced to China in the 16th century, and their cultivation history is less than 500 years to this day. Sweet potatoes are sweet in taste, nutritious, and easy to digest, providing a large amount of energy, so in some regions, they are used as a staple food. Sweet potatoes are the "rice" of Hainan, and coastal fishing villages are accustomed to using sweet potatoes as a staple food.
【Nutritional Components】
Sweet potatoes are high in carbohydrates (23.1%) and also high in calories (100 grams of fresh sweet potatoes can produce 99 kcal of energy), but they contain no fat. In addition, sweet potatoes are also rich in dietary fiber, bioflavonoids, vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin B1, potassium, carotene, and other nutrients.
【Medicinal Efficacy】
(1) Sweet potatoes can prevent cholesterol from depositing on the walls of blood vessels, helping to prevent or alleviate cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
(2) Sweet potatoes contain unique bioflavonoid components and can promote bowel movements, effectively inhibiting the occurrence of breast cancer and colon cancer.
(3) Sweet potatoes can improve the function of digestive organs, nourish the liver and kidneys, and have a restorative effect on the body's weakness. They can also effectively treat hepatitis and jaundice.
【How to Eat】
Sweet potatoes are eaten for their fleshy roots, and there are various ways to eat them. They can be boiled and eaten directly, or made into snacks. The most famous ways to eat sweet potatoes are sweet potato soup, baked sweet potatoes, and sweet porridge.
Dissolving sweet potato powder in milk or soy milk to drink is a suitable way for the elderly and children.
【Precautions】
(1) Eating cold sweet potatoes can easily cause stomach and abdominal discomfort. Sweet potatoes produce acid in the stomach, so patients with gastric ulcers and excessive stomach acid should not eat them.
(2) Rotten sweet potatoes (with black spots) and sprouted sweet potatoes can be poisonous and should not be eaten.
(3) Root vegetables like sweet potatoes contain a large amount of starch and can be processed into vermicelli for consumption. However, alum is often added during the production process. Excessive consumption can lead to the accumulation of aluminum in the body, which is not good for your health.
(4) Sweet potatoes contain "gasification enzymes," so do not eat too much at one time. Eat them with rice or flour, and pair them with pickles or drink some vegetable soup to avoid symptoms like heartburn, acid reflux, and abdominal bloating and gas.
【Appropriate Amount】
1 piece (about 150 grams) each time.