Sweet potato, also known as yam, sweet potato, taro, and red potato, was introduced to China in the 16th century, and its cultivation history is less than 500 years. 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 eating 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 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, 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, have a restorative effect on the body's weakness, and 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 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 and drinking it is a suitable way for the elderly and children.
Precautions for Consumption
(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 and tuber vegetables like sweet potatoes contain a large amount of starch and can be processed into vermicelli, but 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 "gasifying enzymes," so do not eat too much at one time. Eat them with rice and flour, and pair them with pickles or drink some vegetable soup to avoid symptoms such as heartburn, acid reflux, and bloating.
Recommended Amount
1 sweet potato (about 150 grams) each time.