SWEET POTATO
Sattva is the energy of balance and lucidity. A sattvic diet create happiness of mind and is made up of pure foods that are tasty ,nourishing and give mental strength. Sweet Potato is an awesome vegetable which is a sattvic diet.
Sweet potato is a flavoursome vegetable with excessive nutritional value, rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B6, dietary fiber and carbohydrates.
Sweet potato has the potential to reduce appetite and food intake which helps control excessive weight gain and also manage digestion related problems. Sweet potato contains vitamin C and beta-carotene that are beneficial for the skin as they help delay the ageing process due to the antioxidant property.
HISTORY
Researchers believed that they were cultivated in central America thousands of years ago. The earliest raising records of the sweet potato date to 750 BCE in Peru, although prehistory evidence shows cultivation of the sweet potato might have begun around 2500-1850 BCE.
The sweet potato is largely cultivated in tropical and warm temperate climates and is an essential food crop in the southern United States, tropical America and the Caribbean, the warmer islands of the Pacific, Japan, and parts of Russia.
Sweet potato is grown widely in tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world. In India, it is largely grown in north and eastern parts of India comprising of Odisha, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.
BENEFITS OF SWEET POTATO
THEY ARE RICH IN ANTI OXIDANTS
Experts suggest eating a diet rich in antioxidants. This prevents damage caused by free radicals on key organs, keeps diseases at bay, and can also help your skin look healthier. By taking sweet potatoes which are high in anti oxidants and you would enjoy better health in the long run.
THEY ARE HIGH IN BETA CAROTENE
These orange coloured vegetable is an excellent source of beta carotene, which helps in slow progress of mascular degeneration. Beta carotene is converted to vitamin A, that helps prevent eye problems like dry eyes, night blindness and gives good vision.
THEY IMPROVE STAMINA
Sweet potato helps to correct male sexual dysfunction and also improve stamina. Sweet potato helps to maintain stamina and reduce weakness when it is added to diet. Sweet potato is good for men as they are rich in vitamin A which improves the quality of sperm. Folic acid which has antioxidant property protects the sperm and reduces the risk of any genetic defects.
THEY ARE ANTI DIABETIC IN NATURE
Sweet potatoes are a safe option to add to your diet in moderation, if you have diabetes. Sweet potatoes are high in fiber and have a low glycemic index, which results in a low immediate impact on blood glucose levels. This keeps your sugar level in check. Sweet potato is good for diabetes due to its anti diabetic nature. A constituent named ‘Caiapo’ in it regulates the action of insulin.
THEY AIDS IN WEIGHT LOSS
Sweet potato gives a feeling of satiety and reduces craving. This is because it takes time to digest due to its heavy nature. They not only keep you full for longer and give you all the essential nutrients. Taking one cup of boiled sweet potatoes before food helps you to manage weight.
THEY ARE GOOD FOR SKIN
Vitamin C and Beta carotene in sweet potato helps in controlling wrinkles and increases moisture content in the skin.
Boil a sweet potato, make it a paste with honey, apply it on the face for 10 -20 minutes and wash with water. Apply it thrice a week for a glowing skin.
TAKE AWAY
Sweet potato may slow down digestion and cause flatulence when eaten raw. Thus, it is best to boil, slow cook, steam cook or fry Sweet potato before consumption. Moderation is the key for all diet.It is good to seek proper medical advice if you are taking medication for diabetes and other problems.
“Time and health are two precious assets that we don’t recognize and appreciate until they have been depleted.” -Denis Waitley
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