Want To Loose Weight? Go For Sweet Potatoes

While the health benefits of sweet potatoes are commonly known, chances are that most people aren't aware of how sweet potatoes can aid weight loss.

 

The high quantity of dietary fibre, low calorie content, and high water content in sweet potatoes makes them an excellent food for weight loss.

Sweet potatoes are naturally sweet so you can eat them without any dressing. Satisfy your sweet/salty cravings with sweet potatoes at any time of the day.

Here's how sweet potatoes help you lose weight.

High Fibre Content
Sweet potatoes contain a high amount of dietary fibre. If you're trying to lose weight, dietary fibre is important for a number of reasons. Foods that are rich in fibre keep you full for longer, which prevents you from binge-eating. It takes longer to digest fibre, which also prevents overeating. This reduces high calorie intake and prevents weight gain.

Low Calorie Content
Sweet potatoes are relatively low in calories, which is also very important if you are trying to lose weight. One serving of sweet potatoes contains around 90-100 calories, while a higher calorie food like regular potatoes contain as many as 300-400 calories per serving. To reduce calorie intake, replacing high calorie snacks with sweet potatoes will prove effective.

Blood Sugar Control
Sweet potatoes are rich in carbohydrates, but they contain carotenoids that help stabilize blood sugar levels and lower insulin resistance. Compounds in sweet potatoes increase levels of adiponectin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels in the body. Sweet potatoes have a relatively low glycemic index. This helps prevent an increase in blood sugar after you eat. Controlled blood sugar levels help eliminate sugary cravings when your blood sugar levels are low.

To retain the low-glycemic properties of sweet potatoes, boil or steam them instead of roasting.

High Water Content
Our bodies respond more favourably to foods that have high amounts of water, and so the high water content in sweet potatoes makes you feel full and prevents you from overeating. It reduces water retention in the body and prevents the lost weight from coming back on.

How to prepare and serve sweet potatoes
To prepare sweet potatoes, boil or stem unpeeled. Leaving the peel intact stops excessive loss of nutrients and retains its natural sweetness.

Use sweet potatoes as a substitute in any recipe that calls for white potatoes. Resist adding butter or any other high fat or high calorie dressing to the serving of sweet potatoes. Season with salt, pepper or herbs.