Nutrition is a major concern to people nowadays, because many people are getting more health conscious. If you are among these people, you surely must be concerned about your nutrition and what food you take in. One of the most important things that should be taken into consideration is your diet’s nutritional value. The question is: where do we find nutrition? What is it? Let’s have a look at a few examples to give you an idea about the subject.
First, we will start with fruit and vegetable. The nutritional values of fruits and vegetables are mainly determined by their nutritional value per serving. Today, it is not completely clear what the process of roasting beans does to its nutritive value. Based on studies, you can consume boiled beans or prepare hot teas with them. On the other hand, research also shows that consuming boiled sweet potatoes provides some vitamin A which is a good source of the antioxidant vitamin A.
Sweet potatoes are also considered to be a good source of potassium. Potatoes have plenty of potassium packed in its body as well as fiber, which make it a good source of dietary fiber. For example, studies indicate that intake of 1 cup of potatoes per day can lower blood pressure because of the potassium content and also contains some amount of magnesium, iron, folate and phosphorus. Thus, if you want to maintain a healthy heart, this is a great choice.
But there are limitations of the sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are rich in fiber but these fibers can only be consumed in solids such as in foods like oatmeal. In other words, you cannot take a cup of sweet potato and enjoy its benefits.
One of the best choices for a sweet potato is the banana. Research reveals that the consumption of banana is very beneficial for people who are suffering from diabetes. The reason why this vegetable is so helpful for diabetics is because it has a low glycemic index. A medium-sized banana has about 65 percent of the sugar of a cup of white sugar and therefore, the blood sugar level does not rise as much as what happens when you use table sugar.
Another great choice for potatoes is the vanilla extract. You can simply place one ripe banana on top of half a cup of raw, unsweetenedened cane sugar. The amount of sugar will depend on your preference. However, if you do not like the bitter taste of vanilla extract, you can add a few teaspoons of lemon juice to it. This is also a great option because it has a low glycemic index.
On the other hand, there are some drawbacks of including bananas in your diet. First is that bananas have a very high content of potassium, which means that diabetic patients should not eat too much of this vegetable. This is because potassium helps in maintaining correct blood pressure. The other drawback of bananas is that they lack fiber. Although fiber is important for good health, it simply decreases the absorption of nutrients in the digestive system.
An excellent source of potassium is the potato. This vegetable contains more than seventy percent of potassium, which is about six percent of the recommended daily value. It has been proven that potatoes can reduce the risk of heart disease, lower bad cholesterol and reduce the risk of developing cancer. Furthermore, potatoes are rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, and potassium, making it an excellent source of vitamins.
However, for people who want to lower their carbohydrate intake, they should avoid sweet potatoes and opt for brown rice or some other carbohydrates instead. Sweet potatoes are high in both carbohydrate and sugar. This is why people with type 2 diabetes should avoid sweet potato leaves. Similarly, people with high blood pressure and high cholesterol should also avoid this vegetable because it can increase the amount of cholesterol in the body, which increases the risk of stroke and heart disease.
If you want to eat sweet potatoes help reduce your blood pressure and cholesterol, then go for the organic variety. You should avoid the regular white potato because it contains too much starch and too much sugar. In fact, studies have shown that people who regularly eat white potatoes tend to have too much fat. Therefore, they gain weight and become obese.
Sweet potatoes contain lots of essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin A, potassium, folic acid, magnesium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, zinc, and manganese. These vitamins and minerals are found in abundance in various fresh and dried fruits, including oranges, strawberries, kale, spinach, and avocado. However, there are only a few varieties of sweet potato, and therefore, the intake of these vitamins and minerals is not sufficient. This is why it is recommended to add a baked sweet potato to your diet.