Earlier this week, I posted a version of a meal replacement using the Vi-Shape and a sweet potato.  These funny looking root vegetables really only get noticed around the Thanksgiving holidays usually in the guise of a candied yam.  It’s important to give dignity to these wonderful vegetables as they really are “super-foods.”

The antioxidant profile of Sweet Potatoes include a specific macronutrient referred to as root storage proteins.  In fact, one of the compounds studied has been shown to be about one-third as active as glutathione, one of the most active antioxidants in the human body. They’ve also been classified recently as an “anti-diabetic” food.  Sweet Potatoes have earned this honor because of recent animal studies in which they have helped stabilize blood sugar and lowered insulin resistance.  Finally, Sweet Potatoes provide many benefits for the lungs.  Because of the excellent levels of beta-carotene, they help optimize the structure and function of the tissues that line the lungs.

So, to answer the question, “Are Sweet Potatoes just orange-colored regular potatoes?”, the answer is No. They are completely different.  Sweet Potatoes do not contain nightshade alkaloids and belong to the Convolvulaceae family unlike regular potatoes, which are members of the Solanaceae family.  Regular potatoes and their cousins, including tomatoes, eggplants and peppers, are referred to as nightshade vegetables.  An element found in its structure – steroid alkaloid – has been documented as blocking the activity of an enzyme in nerve cells causing some inflammation and joint damage.  

Here are the facts on sweet potatoes (for one medium size sweet potato) from the USDA:
Calories 110
Fat 0.39 g
Protein 2.15 g
Net Carbs 31.56 g
Dietary Fiber 3.9 g
Calcium 28.6 mg
Sodium 16.9 mg Potassium 306.2 mg
Folate 18.2 mcg
Vitamin C 29.51 mg
Vitamin A 26081.9 IU
Among root vegetables, sweet potatoes offer the lowest glycemic index rating.

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