Individuals who have been diagnosed with diabetes can be both overwhelming and challenging. Aside from observing your regular insulin medication, you also need to follow a strict and healthy meal plan every single day. Choosing the best type of food for your daily meal consumption is part of diabetes management, which ensures that your blood sugar levels do not rise drastically or drop on very low levels.
From fruits to vegetables, there is always something you can choose from to take into account with in your daily meal plan. However, there are some factors that you need to consider to ensure that your blood sugar levels will not be affected. One of these factors is knowing if that certain food can cause complication to your health status.
Among the widely consumed foods that individuals with diabetes consider consuming are sweet potatoes. If you haven’t known yet, these vegetables are recognized as one of the most nutritious and finest vegetables to ingest, alongside other vegetables that are rich in protein and fiber. However, just because they comprise a lot of nutrients doesn’t mean they are already suitable for diabetic individuals.
There are a lot of varieties of sweet potatoes cultivated in different parts of the globe. Some variations maybe safe for diabetics, while some sorts can also be harmful. With this information, preparing and choosing the best type of this vegetable is necessary. Nevertheless, to suffice the query if these vegetables are good and safe for diabetic people, the answer is YES.
Because of the nutritional value this vegetable type, consuming them can assist in strengthening the body, controlling the body’s levels of blood glucose, and supporting the immune system in working better. However, consuming them moderately alongside enough discipline and only consuming the right amount is necessary.
Nutritional Value
As mentioned, sweet potatoes contain a lot of nutrients. These are the basis why this kind of vegetable is always part of someone’s daily meal plan, most especially if that person is ill. Additionally, its flavor and taste fit anyone’s palette. Below is the nutritional information on sweet potatoes.
- Protein
- Iron
- Fiber
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Phosphorus
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin B-6
- Vitamin K
- Calcium
- Folate
- Zinc
As you can see, the nutrients mentioned above are what diabetic individuals must have and take in for their bodies to remain healthy and functioning. Without these, it becomes difficult to manage diabetes. Add to the dilemma of preventing other complications from happening.
Benefits of Sweet Potatoes
Learn the different benefits and advantages of consuming sweet potatoes. Consider the following:
- Helps prevent cancer – Aside from its capacity to inhibit other medical conditions, taking in the right number of sweet potatoes can help in fighting off cancer. The vegetable’s antioxidant properties are highly capable of fighting free radicals, which serve as the reason why cancer happens.
- Promotes healthy eyesight – Aside from the nutrients and minerals provided above, sweet potatoes are also a rich source of beta-carotene. It is a type of antioxidant that promotes healthy vision and eyesight.
- Strengthens the immune system – This type of vitamin plays a vital role in the steady performance of your body’s immune system. That means consuming sweet potatoes strengthens our immunity.
Varieties of Sweet Potatoes
In adding this type of vegetable to your diet, learning their kinds or sorts is also necessary. Consider the following:
- Purple Sweet Potatoes
- Orange sweet potatoes
- Japanese Sweet Potatoes
These varieties differ not in their color but also in how they function. Some of them contain Caiapo, while some also are rich sources of anthocyanins. These nutrients are already considered helpful in maintaining someone’s levels of blood glucose. Furthermore, you can easily buy them as they are already available in many supermarkets.
You can choose anything from these varieties. However, you should also make sure that you are consuming this vegetable based on the result of your daily blood sugar monitoring. Just like following your regular insulin treatment, what you eat can greatly affect your blood sugar levels. Always plan what you ingest in a day and ensure that your diabetes is well-managed.
