Hi,

My husband was diagnosed as Diabetic (Type 2) just 3 weeks ago. Many members of my family were/are Diabetic so thankfully I know a lot about it but I didn't know until he went to the Diabetic Clinic how good sweet potatoes were for Diabetics. We've been eating them for years as I knew they were good to control high blood pressure and help to prevent heart disease...but didn't know they can help to control Diabetes.

The nurse at the Diabetic Clinic told us that whenever possible, my husband should eat sweet potatoes rather than ordinary potoates as these help to regulate the diabetes. I found this very interesting as I had been told to eat the same thing because of their high eostrogen content as they would control my hot flushes (flashes) which I was getting due to the menopause. Which I'm happy to say they did. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

An aunt of mine was diagnosed as diabetic a few months ago and she was also told by her Diabetic practitioner to eat them. Apparently, they have found to be the new 'wonder veggie'.

Sweet potatoes are loaded with beta-carotene; an average 4oz potato contains more than 14 grams' worth and supplies an average of 28 milligrams of vitamin C, nearly half the RDA. Sweet potatoes are also the very best low-fat source of vitamin E, providing nearly as much of this nutrient as do fatty nuts and seeds. Vitamin E not only helps fight cancer but also helps maintain heart health.

Sweet Potatoes are also packed with antioxidants, which provide powerful protection agains cell damage which can lead to cancer and other diseases.

Because sweet potatoes are high in complex carbs they fill you up and can help you control your weight which, as you know, helps control the Diabetes. The fibre content is high and so helps to lower blood sugar levels by slowing the rate at which food is converted into glucose and absorbed into the bloodstream. Due to their sweet taste they can also help to curb a Diabetic's craving for something sweet.

Yams tend to be called sweet potatoes but are not. Yams are white. The 'real' sweet potato has yellow or orange flesh and its thin skin may either be white, yellow, red or purple. Sometimes the sweet potato will be shaped like a 'normal' potoato, being short and blocky with rounded ends, while other times will be longer with tapered ends. There is often much confusion between sweet potatoes and yams...the moist-fleshed, orange-coloured root vegetable that is often called a "yam" is a sweet potato.

The more orange the colour and brighter they are the better they are for you. Baking the sweet potatoes helps to retain all the potatoes' nutrients. Also a TINY amount of fat, from a 'fat spray can' helps to absorb the beta-carotene.

<img src="http://www.geocities.com/lynrennick/SweetPotPerCent.gif">
Hope this has been of help to you.

Lyn Rennick
Lyn@LynRennicksAMPSsociety.co.uk