Sweet potatoes are both a tasty and a healthy food packed with nutrients. As a result, they can be beneficial for treating many health conditions. Even though most people love eating sweet potatoes, people with diabetes generally try to avoid them.
They believe that this way they won’t gain any weight. In addition, they are afraid that the sweet potatoes contain harmful sugars that can affect or cause diabetes. So, they tend not to include this food in their daily meals.
But, even if sweet potato is a starchy food, it contains less sugar than a regular potato. So, only the name sets it aside. Furthermore, the glycemic index of a sweet potato can vary between 40 to 50, and it all depends on where farmers grew it.
However, the regular potato has a glycemic index that varies from 60 to up to 90. Therefore, if you want to lose weight and manage your diabetes, it is best to focus on low glycemic index foods. In fact, sweet potatoes can be perfect for soothing the stomach lining and creating a protective layer.
1. Treating Stomach Ulcers
There are various methods and ways you can use to cook sweet potatoes. Also, you can bake them, boil, cook or even use them in soups. Since these potatoes contain a soothing effect that can be very beneficial for the intestines and the stomach, they can help treat stomach ulcers.
Furthermore, they contain enough potassium, vitamin C, B-complex, calcium, and beta-carotene necessary for keeping the stomach healthy. Moreover, sweet potatoes contain roughage which can help prevent constipation and resultant acid formation.
As a result, this food can prove exceptionally beneficial for lowering the chance of stomach ulcers. On top of all this, sweet potatoes contain anti-inflammatory properties which can prove beneficial for reducing the pain of the ulcers and inflammation.
Here are the best methods you can prepare sweet potatoes for treating stomach ulcers.
Method 1: Baking
Take 100 grams of sweet potatoes and cut them into bite-size pieces. Next, cover the baking pan with baking sheet and add the sweet potatoes. Sprinkle them with some olive oil after the baking is complete. Otherwise, you will oxidize the olive oil during the baking process.
Method 2: Boiling
The best and healthiest way to eat sweet potatoes is to boil them. To do this, you will need around 100 grams of sweet potatoes. Next, add them to a pot and cover them with a sufficient amount of water. Let them boil until they become soft.
To check if they are ready, poke them with a fork. If the fork stays stuck in the potato, let them boil a while longer. Lastly, remove the potatoes from the water and let them cool down a bit. Of course, you can add olive oil if you want.
Note: For treating stomach ulcers, it is best to eat boiled potatoes twice per day for a span of two weeks. Also, make sure you purchase organic ones if you want to get all the necessary nutrients that your body needs.
Method 3: Make Powder
You can also dry the sweet potatoes and make a powder. If you consume this powder 3 times per day for 2 weeks, you might be able to treat stomach ulcers. Besides, this is a far more convenient way to consume sweet potatoes, especially if you have a specific purpose.
However, it might not be as tasty as eating the sweet potatoes themselves. But, it can be equally healing for the ulcer. To make a powder here is what you should do:
- Boil ½ kg of sweet potatoes until they have completely softened up. Break them into pieces to get faster results.
- Let them cool at room temperature.
- Put the boiled sweet potatoes together with the water in a blender and let them mix until all the ingredients have combined well.
- Strain the mixture through a cloth in a tray.
- Let the potatoes rest at the bottom of the tray. This procedure can take up to a couple of hours. It is best to prepare it at night, and make the powder the next morning.
- Let the sweet potatoes in the tray dry under sunlight. So, you will need to do this when the weather is hot.
- Make the dried potatoes into a powder and store it in a proper jar or a glass container with adequate sealing.
2. Managing Diabetes
People with diabetes have to pay close attention to what they are eating. Therefore, they manage their diets and the intake of carbohydrates. Furthermore, this conduction affects the insulin levels and the blood glucose.
As a result, foods that contain too many carbohydrates can prove problematic for people with this condition. But, there are other foods that people with diabetes often fear to try out, like the sweet potato.
Due to its name, the people are afraid that this potato contains more sugars than the regular potato. But, that is not the case. Sweet potatoes are full of nutritional benefits that can greatly improve the overall health.
Besides, the glycemic index of the sweet potato is smaller than the one of the regular potato. Therefore, this type of food can prove ideal for people with diabetes. So, they should start including it in the daily meal plans.
Whether you choose to boil, bake, dice, or roast it, you should know that sweet potato will still contain all the nutrients that can boost the health. If you are looking for a more versatile option, then you should try roasting.
Roasting will caramelize your potatoes in the oven and give them an amazing flavor. So, make sure to give them a try and include them in your diet. If you have any concerns about your health, make sure to contact your doctor.
3. Heart Health
Since sweet potatoes are a rich source of vitamin B6, they can be a great remedy for boosting the cardiovascular health.
According to Harvard University School of Public Health, sweet potatoes can harden the arteries and boost the function of the blood vessels. So, the best way to improve your health is to consume plenty of sweet potatoes.
Besides, the potassium they contain can greatly improve the blood pressure, fluid balance, and even keep the hearth in shape.
Did you find this post helpful? If you did, make sure to leave us a COMMENT and SHARE this post with family and friends.
