JdP> Though Dr. Sears considers the Sweet Potato as an unfavorable carb:
you might want to consider it as part of the 25% of allowable unfavorable carbs in a meal.
Here's some info on the Sweet Potato:
.
... In these days of Paleo, low-carb and low-glycemic load diets, potatoes are on the do-not-ingest list, though we now have an exception.
As it turns out, sweet potatoes do not have the high starch content of regular potatoes. What they do have is fiber—more than a serving of oatmeal. They also have anti-inflammatory properties. Chapter 5 (JdP> of book name deleted to conform with forum rules) is devoted to the very common health condition known as "chronic inflammation," (JdP> sound familiar?) including the many ways that sweet potatoes can remedy the situation, due to their high amounts of the powerful antioxidant, vitamin E and of bioavailable beta carotene. Not only that, but they actually rank higher in nutritional value than either spinach or broccoli! This book has some wonderful recipes too, like Sweet Potato Frittata, Sweet Potato Slaw, Sweet Potato Bars, and Sweet Potato Gratin Stackers, just to name a few.
.
All that yumminess aside, this book ties in with a couple of other books that bring up the value of the sweet potato as well. In (JdP> book name deleted to conform with forum rules) well-known founder of the "Paleo" movement, Dr. (JdP> Dr. name deleted to conform with forum rules), says that "sweet potatoes and yams represent a good source of carbohydrates, which are necessary to replenish your muscles' spent glycogen stores." Dr. (JdP> Dr. name deleted to conform with forum rules) even goes on to indicate that "all tubers are net base (alkaline) yielding vegetables." This, of course, is what caught my attention, since I believe keeping our bodies out of the acidic pH range, and more to the alkaline side, is essential to our health and well-being. Actually, this health principle struck me as so crucial to wellness that it led to my creating the (JdP> supplement name deleted to conform with forum rules), which contains sweet potato flakes, along with other alkalizing nutrients.
.
The other book that caught my attention as I've continued to research alkalizing foods is called (JdP> book name and author name deleted to conform with forum rules). This author traveled the world to investigate what are referred to as “blue zones”. The common denominator in these blue zones is the longevity factor and how prevalent it is among the populace. People in these geographic areas are living into their 90s—even to 100 or more—and they are in good health, too!
.
One of the blue zones that (JdP> author name deleted to conform with forum rules) investigated was on Okinawa. The staple of the Okinawan diet for the older generation, as it turns out, is sweet potatoes. Ironically enough, when the Americans set up shop in Okinawa after WWII, they gradually introduced commercial fast food into the dietary culture of the Okinawan people. What’s happening now is that those in their 90s are outliving those in their 50s. The younger generations, who have more commonly consumed the western diet, tend to die of heart disease more frequently than the old timers who are eating sweet potatoes and fresh vegetables instead of burgers & fries. Go figure!
. |