But aren't sweet potatoes too sweet?

Yes, sweet potatoes contain more sugar than regular potatoes but about half the starch in general.  

The good thing is that both sweet potatoes and regular potatoes contain resistant starch which means the starch takes a longer time to convert to sugar in your body.  Plus, unlike other sugary snacks, they are nutrient dense.  

​So satisfy that sweet craving with sweet potatoes!

---

The most interesting fact about sweet potatoes!

Sweet potatoes contain substances called, phytochelatins.  Phytochelatins can bind heavy metals like copper, mercury, and lead, and cadmium.  

Heavy metals can accumulate in the body over time and are suspected of triggering many health conditions such as heart disease, dementia, thyroid problems, neurological conditions, autism, and more.  

So that makes them really good to eat if you're trying to detoxify your body, which you should be doing all the time, not just on special occasions.  😁

Here's the most interesting part.  If a child accidentally swallows  a coin or other metallic object, feeding him or her plenty of sweet potato will help the object to pass through easier because the sweet potato will stick to it!  

Now you have your fun fact for the day.

Another interesting fact is that sweet potatoes aren't really related to potatoes at all.
 
​They're actually a tuberous member of the morning glory family.  They're native to the southern United States and the West Indies.  They now grow in all warm, moist places of the world.

Try to buy them organic, because they can pick up a musty smell from pesticide containing soil.

Store them in a cool, dry place, but not in the refrigerator because they can develop an off taste and hard core.

Health Benefits

Sweet potatoes are very nutritious.  They are good for the eliminative system, ulcers, inflamed colons and poor blood circulation.

They also have antioxidant properties.  The darker they are in color, the more beta carotene they have.

They are more alkaline when they are raw than when they are cooked.  So don't shy away from grating or dicing them for use on salads.

---

How do I cook them?

My favorite way to cook them is to cut them into spears and mix them with melted coconut oil, garlic, fresh lime juice, salt, and a little cayenne pepper if you like spice.  Then lay them out flat on a baking sheet and cook them at 375 degrees Fahrenheit or 190 degrees Celcius for 20 - 30 minutes depending on the thickness.

I also cook them in the oven, then scoop out the insides and add veggies, butter, yogurt, and maybe cheese.  Then I pop them back in the oven to heat them up again.  They're a delicious version of stuffed baked potatoes.  

---

How do you like to cook sweet potatoes?  Are they part of your regular rotation of foods?