Sweet potato, also known as yam, tuber, mountain yam, red potato, etc., was introduced to China in the 16th century, and its cultivation history is less than 500 years to this day. Sweet potatoes are sweet in taste, nutritious, easy to digest, and can provide a large amount of energy, so in some areas, 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 Effects】
(1) Sweet potatoes can prevent cholesterol from depositing on the blood vessel walls, which helps to prevent or alleviate cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
(2) Sweet potatoes contain unique bioflavonoid components and can promote smooth bowel movements, which can effectively inhibit 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 directly boiled and eaten, or made into dry snacks. The most famous ways to eat sweet potatoes are sweet potato sugar water, roasted 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.
【Edible Taboos】
(1) Eating cold sweet potatoes can easily cause stomach 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 (sweet potatoes with black spots) and sprouted sweet potatoes can be poisonous and should not be eaten.
(3) Root and stem vegetables such as sweet potatoes contain a lot of starch and can be processed into vermicelli, but alum is often added during the production process. Excessive consumption can lead to aluminum accumulation in the body, which is harmful to health.
(4) Sweet potatoes contain "gas-forming enzyme". Do not eat too much at one time. Eat them with rice and flour, and serve with pickles or drink some vegetable soup to avoid symptoms such as heartburn, acid reflux, and bloating.