Sweet Potato…ahh! I can eat them every single day for the rest of my life. Sweet potatoes have been one of the greatest discoveries in our lives and not only are they extremely healthy but delicious too.
The Health Secrets of Sweet Potato
Certainly, we have been eating potatoes and sweet potatoes for our whole life and they have been here for more than 10,000 years and have heard about numerous health benefits but do we know all?
1. Rich in Vitamin A
Although all the potatoes have very similar nutrients to each other but in regards to Vitamin A, sweet potatoes win the race. Each 100g contains 14,187 IU of Vitamin A which is 283% based on a 2000 calorie diet. Vitamin A is crucial for protecting your eyesight as well as your immunity.
2. Antioxidants
Sweet Potatoes are great in fighting off the free radicals which can damage your cells as they contain beta-carotene, chlorogenic acid, and polyphenols. The antioxidants can help you fight off heart diseases, diabetes, and certain types of cancer.
While purchasing the sweet potatoes, look for the most colorful ones as they contain the most antioxidants.
3. Gut Health
Sweet Potatoes are great for your gut health. They contain a large number of fibers, which have been known to be great for your gut health as well as digestion. A medium-sized sweet potato contains around 3.8 grams. The fibers are both soluble (15-23%) and insoluble (77-85%) and therefore, is a great form to get in your daily fiber intake. Healthy gut, Healthy You! 😀
4. Controls Sugar Spikes
Eating more simple carbs and less protein, can make your blood sugar increase and give you a sudden burst of energy. But the problem is that it can lead to sugar crashes later on leading to bad more, binge-eating, disturbed sleep which can collectively hinder your fitness goals.
How to Make Baked Sweet Potato?
Well, you might be thinking baked sweet potatoes? That is easy! But today, we are baking sweet potatoes with a twist. We’ll be topping them with our favorite ingredients for a perfect healthy appetizer.
The sweet potato recipe starts with washing the potatoes thoroughly by scrubbing the skin lightly to scrape off all the dirt. Pat them dry.
Line your baking sheet with foil as sweet potatoes tend to get a little juicy.
Now, cut them in half, drizzle olive oil, and sprinkle salt to taste.
Prick holes! This is important to reduce the baking time. How can you tell they are done? Stick the fork into the thickest part of the potato. If it comes out without any resistance, you are good to go. It takes about 45-60minutes to cook a medium to large-sized potato.
Take out the sweet potatoes, using a fork mash the potato without damaging the skin.
Put turkey bacon on and a slice of cheddar/mozzarella cheese on top and bake for another 10 minutes.
Take them out from the oven and let them cool a bit. Now drizzle hot sauce, sprinkle crushed red chilies and enjoy your healthy and delicious appetizer.
Can You Eat Sweet Potato Skin?
It is completely safe to eat the skin and in fact, the skin is rich in fiber and other nutrients that support gut health and increase the feeling of fullness thus, stopping you from binge eating.
Can you Refrigerate Baked Sweet Potatoes?
Baked sweet potatoes can be refrigerated for up to 3-5 days max. The best way to refrigerate them is to use a shallow GladWare® Container.
