Sweet Potatoes: What the Irish Were Missing

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The History of the Potato

When people think of St. Patrick's Day, they typically think of corned beef and cabbage, beer, and of course, potatoes. This is because potatoes were a staple of the Irish diet for many years. Potatoes were first brought over from the Americas around 1570, and by the 1780s, they formed the core of the Irish diet. With access to a nutrient-rich, abundant food, the Irish population exploded. All would have been well, had it not been for the Great Famine of 1845. In 1845, a fungal infection brought over on ships from the Americas killed the potato plants, and people starved. In the course of just a few years, Ireland lost more than half its population to famine and emigration, as desperate peasants fled to the United States in search of sustenance and opportunity. It was a disaster of unparalleled proportions.

How could an entire nation of people become so dependent on a single crop? Well, unlike most major crops, potatoes provide almost all the vitamins and nutrients that people need. A single acre of potatoes can easily feed ten people for a year. That's quite a high yield. In addition, potatoes are easy to grow and can survive very harsh conditions. Even today, much of the Irish, not to mention American, diet is made up of potatoes. They're cheap, and, most people believe, healthy. In light of recent findings, however, this idea of the potato as a super food is beginning to change.

Potatoes and Glycemic Index

The glycemic index is a measurement of how fast carbohydrate-containing foods are absorbed into the blood stream. Foods with a high index absorb quickly and cause a spike in blood sugar. Over time, these blood sugar spikes can lead to serious health problems such as diabetes and obesity. For this reason, it is usually better to stick with low glycemic foods for maintaining a good weight and living healthy. Unfortunately, potatoes, long considered a "wonder food," have a very high glycemic index. In fact, a baked potato has the same glycemic index rating as pure table sugar! Consequently, more and more people are advising that not just the chips, but the tubers themselves have no place in a healthy diet. With all this anti-potato rhetoric, what's a spud lover to do?

Sweet Potatoes as a Healthier Alternative

Sweet potatoes make a wonderful alternative to traditional potatoes. They can be used in all the same ways as traditional potatoes, but are much better for you. Although they have a similar name, sweet potatoes actually belong to a completely different family of plants. Unlike potatoes, sweet potatoes aren't nearly so starchy. While considerably sweeter, they don't have the same impact on blood sugar as traditional potatoes. In fact, sweet potatoes are a very low-glycemic index food. Sweet potatoes are packed full of healthy nutrients. They have very high levels of vitamin A and C, calcium, and magnesium, as well as considerable amounts of potassium, iron, copper, and vitamin B6. They also have high fiber content. Many of the nutrients in sweet potatoes are antioxidants with potent anti-inflammatory properties. Overall, sweet potatoes provide high quantities of many of the essential nutrients and trace minerals necessary for a healthy lifestyle. A true wonder food!

Cooking with Sweet Potatoes

Anything you can do with regular potatoes, you can also do with sweet potatoes. They are excellent baked, mashed, fried, boiled, or even grilled! Ideally, you should buy organic sweet potatoes and eat them with the skins on for extra fiber content. If, however, you're buying commercially grown sweet potatoes, make sure to peel them so as to get rid of the pesticides and waxes used as preservatives. Whichever option you choose, sit back, relax, and enjoy without guilt as you eat one of the world's healthiest foods.

Resources: http://www.southbeach-diet-plan.com/glycemicfoodchart.htm http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/PotatoHistory.htm http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/5-winter-superfoods-sweet-potatoes-nutrient-profile http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=64

Photo Credit: ilovemypit