Natural Healers- Sweet Potatoes

  It is thought that the Sweet Potato originated  in Central or South America, and had been domesticated in Central America at least 5000 years ago. Outside the tropics, sweet potatoes thrive only in the warmer temperate climates, and do best in a loose sandy soil that is well drained. They produce more pounds of food per acre than any other cultivated plant.
 One sweet potato contains more than a days worth of beta-carotene and nearly all your vitamin C requirement for the day. They release their carbohydrates slowly, making them  useful for glucose control. They also contain adiponectin, a hormone that works with this carbohydrate release to keep blood sugar levels steady. Sweet potatoes are also high in vitamins B6, B1, B2, vitamin D, and a good source of copper, iron and magnesium, and a good source of the all important dietary fibre. They also contain choline, a very important and versatile nutrient in sweet potatoes that helps with sleep, muscle movement, learning and memory. Also of note, the vitamins C and E in sweet potatoes have been shown to support eye health and prevent degenerative damage.
   The yellow potatoes with the brown skins have high potassium levels, which may help regulate the heart, andcombat stress.
 The ones with purple skin and flesh have high amounts of anthocyanin pigments, to support and protect the gut from IBS and ulcerative colitis. The ones with purple skin but yellow flesh, contain the highest amounts of antioxidants.

  Sweet potatoes' high beta-carotene content fights the free radicals  that cause the skin to age, as well as, with the high vitamin C content, boosting the immune system. It may also have anti-cancer properties, particularly in respect of prostate cancer.
  They are best eaten with their skins on, steamed or boiled, rather than roasted. Eating them with a little oil helps the body absorb all the antioxidants.

 Go here for comprehensive instructions on growing your own sweet potatoes