Sweet Potatoes! manage blood sugar and Diabetics

If you are diabetic, then you must have come across many people telling you to avoid eating potatoes and will give you various reasons for that too. This is majorly because potatoes contain high levels of glycaemic index which helps such foods to be metabolised faster resulting in a blood sugar spike. Because of this, it is not necessary that you completely stay off tube and root vegetables completely from your diet. Sweet potatoes, also known as Shakarkandi in India is a great vegetable to regulate your blood sugar levels and it is considered as a superfood for diabetics by the American Diabetics Association owing to the benefits obtained from consuming sweet potatoes.

Here is why you should include this superfood Sweet Potatoes in to your diabetic diet plan;
Diabetics is a condition in a human body with metabolic disorder which ultimately results in too much of sugar in the blood (also known as high blood glucose). Diabetes is manageable to a large extent with the help of proper diet, medications and physical activities. people who are diagnosed with diabetes are often recommended to consume food which are high in fibre, therefore, sweet potatoes which are high in fibre content is great option to include in the diet. According to research, sweet potatoes will make sure that blood sugar levels in your body do not fluctuate and hence is a traditional treatment followed for diabetic patients. Sweet potatoes have carbohydrates which release very slowly in to the blood stream and also contains a hormone called adiponectin, the combination of these two is what keeps the blood sugar levels steady.

There has been a myth that starchy food should be avoided from a diabetic person diet completely but that is not the case anymore. Research has proven that maintaining a portion control can ensure you can include a small amount of starchy food in your diet too.

Here are some other reasons as to why sweet potatoes may be particularly appreciated in a diabetes diet:

• Sweet potatoes contain a carotenoid which is called as beta-carotene, and this gives the root vegetable its distinguished bright orange colour.
• They are also a source of vitamin A which can help promote good eye health.
• The spuds of sweet potatoes are high in vitamin C, which helps build your immune system.
• They are also a good source of iron, which helps the red blood cells to produce more oxygen and helps to transfer nutrients throughout the body.
• Sweet potatoes provide a plant-based or vegetarian source of protein for people who do not consume meat. This also helps in keeping you fuller for a long time and promotes weight loss, in turn increasing your insulin sensitivity.
• Because they are a rich source of fibre it helps in keeping yourself full for a long time and keeping your appetite in control.

Some ways to include sweet potatoes in your diet;
1. Sweet Potato masala
2. Sweet potato tikki
3. Stuffed sweet potato paratha
4. Sweet Potato fry
5. Sweet Potato Puranpoli
6. Shakarkand Ka Halwa