May 10
9
An Excellent Food That Can Help You Build Muscle
This sweet potato may not look that appetizing, but don't be fooled, it tastes great!
If you are looking for a healthy carbohydrate to add to your meal, that is quick and easy to prepare, won’t spike your blood sugar levels, is full of antioxidants and tastes delicious? Then you are clearly some sort of crazy person. There is no such food…or is there?
I’m Irish…Now What’s This Talk About A “Sweet” Potato?
I’m sure most people are familiar with sweet potatoes, or have at least heard of them. I have to admit being Irish, I was raised on regular potatoes, or “spuds” as most Irish people call them, not sure why. Although I do recall my brother and me jokingly calling them “spud-atoes” as kids…but I digress.
Mashed, baked, roasted, fried and boiled, yes the potato featured heavily in my diet. When it came to potatoes I thought I knew it all, and up until a few years ago I had no idea what a sweet potato was! But every time I read about different athletes and celebrities diets, sweet potatoes were mentioned. So I decided to do some research…
Look No Further Than The Humble Sweet Potato
Sweet potatoes are native to Central America, they have been cultivated in South America, the Philippines, India and Asia. They are nutritionally dense and contain several highly beneficial antioxidants.
I’m Irish…Now What’s This Talk About A “Sweet” Potato?
I’m sure most people are familiar with sweet potatoes, or have at least heard of them. I have to admit being Irish, I was raised on regular potatoes, or “spuds” as most Irish people call them, not sure why. Although I do recall my brother and me jokingly calling them “spud-atoes” as kids…but I digress.
Mashed, baked, roasted, fried and boiled, yes the potato featured heavily in my diet. When it came to potatoes I thought I knew it all, and up until a few years ago I had no idea what a sweet potato was! But every time I read about different athletes and celebrities diets, sweet potatoes were mentioned. So I decided to do some research…
Beta Carotene
One of the first differences you will notice is the color, sweet potatoes have deep orange flesh beneath the skin, this is due to the high levels of beta carotene they contain. Beta carotene is an antioxidant that mops up unstable chemicals known as free radicals, that can damage us on a cellular level. Beta carotene contains vitamin A, which is important for the immune system, vision and skin health.
Vitamin C
Sweet potatoes also contain significant levels of vitamin C. Vitamin C is needed for repairing the body’s tissues, metabolizing fat, and producing new collagen. We are unable to produce our own vitamin C so we must obtain it from our diet on a daily basis.
These two powerful antioxidants make the sweet potato an excellent addition to anyone’s diet, but sweet potatoes also contain potassium, vitamin B6, manganese, iron and copper.
A Healthy Source of Carbohydrate
Sweet potatoes are naturally sweet tasting, but won’t cause a spike in blood sugar, instead they are slowly digested and rate low to medium on the glycemic index. They are also high in fibre meaning they will help you feel full for longer, for these reasons sweet potatoes are often the only source of carbohydrate chosen by body builders when in competition. They’re also popular among track and field athletes.
Some Ways To Get Sweet Potato Into Your Diet
I don’t eat regular potatoes anymore, I went off them years ago, but I have become totally addicted to sweet potatoes now. I eat them mashed with a little coconut oil, you can also add a little cinnamon if you want. I also make sweet potato fries now and again, just scrub the skin then slice, leaving the skin on. Place on a baking tray, melt some coconut oil and pour over the slices. Place in a pre-heated oven and cook for 30 minutes. Add some freshly ground black pepper and serve while hot.
Sweet Potato Soup
The main way I get my sweet potato fix is with soup. Now I would not have considered myself a fan of soup, but this stuff tastes great! I got it from a site dedicated to food intolerances, and as it turns out I actually worked with the owner back in my modelling days. Her name is Susan Jane White and she is a qualified nutritionist.
When it comes to healthy, great tasting, unprocessed foods, Susan is your go-to girl! Here’s the link to her seriously delicious Sweet Potato & Coconut Soup. I make this a couple of times a week, and always have some in the refrigerator.
If anybody else has any sweet potato ideas I’d love to hear ’em…
