I'm not going to lie, I had to acquire the taste for sweet potatoes. I didn't like the texture and quite honestly the taste was a little off putting for me as well. But when I did the research, I found they were a much better option than the white potatoes I was eating. Now, I find them actually tasty especially when I add crushed black pepper and red pepper flakes!
So why do so many bodybuilders and fitness competitors include sweet potatoes in their diets? Here are a few good reasons... 1. Sweet potatoes are sweet without refined sugars.
This root vegetable provides a sweet flavour without the refined sugars. This is huge for someone like myself who literally was eating a pint of Ben And Jerry's ice cream every day post workout! They can be included in several different recipes to make either a meal or desert... depending how they are prepared. They can be used as a low calorie treat or as part of a meal plan! This helps when trying to cut the refined sugary foods from your nutrient intake.
2. Sweet potatoes help regulate blood glucose levels.
Sweet potatoes, believe it or not, are fairly low on the glycemic index with a rating of 50. What does that mean exactly? It means they are slow burning and minimize spike in blood sugar. Sweet potatoes contain a compound that increase hormone adiponectin which regulates blood sugar levels. When our blood sugar levels are stable, we have sustained energy and less cravings for sugary, refined foods.
3. Sweet potatoes contain fiber.
As mentioned earlier, they contain fiber. I've written a few blogs about fiber in the past which you can look up on my website blog. For now, I'll keep it short. Fiber helps to keep us full longer, sugar molecules bind to fiber and helps to usher them through the digestive system. Fiber also helps to keep our cells hydrated and helps to keep the digestive tract functioning well.
4. Sweet potatoes contain important micronutrients
Not only are sweet potatoes a great macronutrient containing complex carbs and fiber, they are loaded with vitamins and minerals. They contain vitamin A which helps strengthen the immune system and improve skin, eye and bone health. They are also loaded with antioxidants which help prevent inflammation in the body at a cellular level. Anti-inflammatory properties in foods help minimize the risk of certain cancers.
It has been my experience, both currently and back when I was a bodybuilder, that sweet potatoes worked best with my body either pre or post workout. They are excellent for building and replenishing both blood glucose and muscle glycogen levels. I usually either eat them baked by themselves with some type of topping like pepper flakes or fat free cottage cheese or if post workout will include them with a higher protein meal such as fish, quinoa etc. Don't be mislead though, if you are trying to clean up your diet and lose some body fat, sweet potatoes must be respected... RESPECT THE SWEET POTATO! Having sweet potato fries may be a better choice than regular fries, but they are still going to be loaded with saturated fat and sodium because of the way they are prepared. It's best to eat a sweet potato in it's most natural form and either baked or grilled.