Food Worship #1: The Sweet Potato

When I decided to start this blog, I decided that on a regular basis I would like to pay respect the the "super foods" with a dedicated article to at least one every week.  That way, when I describe the benefits of each one, and explain why they are a MUST HAVE in any healthy, clean diet, you can all go and try them out at least one night that week.  Believe me they'll do you more good than you can believe.

So it's monday morning, and it's time for Food Worship 1: The Sweet Potato.  This little guy has so many benefits it's hard to believe:

Sweet Potatoes are rich in Vitamins, especially A and C, which act as antioxidants for the body.  These vitamins help you feel great all day, and help you stay as healthy as possible.

They are an extremely rich source of complex, low GI carbohydrates, which will give you sustained, powerful energy.  For any athlete a sweet potato is a must.  They feed your muscles all day and encourage your body to pack on lean, useful muscle fiber.

Probably my favorite benefit of sweet potatoes though, is the fact that they actively regulate blood sugar.  They reduce insulin spikes, and therefore decrease the chance that you will store unused sugar as fat.  That's right, a sweet potato is an extremely effective diet tool.

And guess what, they taste AMAZING.  Seriously, bake one up tonight.  You can even go to the store and grab one that comes in a plastic, microwavable wrapper.  Just pop it in the microwave for around 4-6 minutes, and you've got yourself one of the healthiest snacks nature has ever produced.

And before all of you ask, yes they are low in calories.  While calories aren't quite as important as everybody makes them out to be, I understand the calorie counting obsession.  So for all of you out there trying to stick to that certain number, sweet potatoes contain between 100-180 calories depending on the size of the potato.

Try to incorporate this food into your diet.  A good place to start is by replacing white potatoes with sweet potatoes.  Honestly these things taste better anyway, and you won't be getting those nutrient lacking, starchy simple carbs.

Give the humble sweet potato a try!

Here's a few delicious recipes, give them a looksie, and maybe try one of them this week.  There's no time like the present to try something new, delicious, and positively good for you.

http://crazyhorsesghost.hubpages.com/hub/How-To-Cook-Sweet-Potatoes