Sweet potato is a small tropical perrenneal herb sweet in taste. Botanically, it is Ipomoea btatas (L) and belongs to a family "convolvulaceae". In English it is known as sweet potato and is "Shakarqandi" in Urdu. Its native home is traced to tropical America and was eaten by the people.
After the discovery of America, sweet potato was known as native to central and South America. Columbus took sweet potato to Europe after his first voyage to the New World in 1492 by the 16th Century Spanish and Portuguese explores took it to the Philippines and to Africa, India, Indonesia and to Southern Asia.
George Washington grew sweet potatoes at Mount Vernon and developed 118 products from sweet potatoes including the glue for the modern postage stamps and starch for sizing cotton fabrics. Sweet potato for eating is roasted on fire and boiled in water and eaten with "Masala" prepared by vendors. A pie (kheer or pudding) is made to eat with gusto. The high amount of dietary fiber, the low calorie content, and the high amount of water all work together to make sweet potatoes a great food, if you are trying to lose weight. One of the main ways that sweet potatoes can help you lose weight is due to their high amount of dietary fiber.
Poor people engaged in hard labour besides eating sweet potato has industrial uses. It is used to make starch and sugar. The edible tuberous root is long and tapered, with a smooth skin whose colour ranges between yellow, orange, red, brown, purple, and beige. It's flesh ranges from beige through white, red, pink, violet, yellow, orange, and purple. Sweet potato cultivars with white or pale yellow flesh are less sweet and moist than those with red, pink or orange flesh. White sweet potato contains the highest content 01 vitamin A, 135, thiamin, Niacin, riboflavin and carotenoids are also present in it. Tibb-e-Unani acquires the nutrients in sweet potato. According to Hakims if sweet potato is eaten in excess it may cause constipation, it may therefore, be eaten in moderation according to the modern science because of its high fiber content, sweet potatoes help to prevent constipation and promote regularity for a healthy digestive tract.
Diabetes: Sweet potatoes are considered low on the glycemic index scale, and recent research suggests they may reduce episodes of low blood sugar and insulin resistance in people with diabetes.
The fiber in sweet potatoes is also important. Studies have shown that people with type 1 diabetes who consume high-fiber diets have lower blood glucose levels, and people with type 2 diabetes have improved blood sugar, lipids, and insulin levels. One medium sweet potato with the skin on provides about 6 grams of fiber.
Blood pressure: Maintaining sodium intake helps keep a healthy blood pressure. However, increasing potassium intake may he just as important. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, recommend adults to eat daily 4,700-milligram (mg) potassium. One medium sweet potato provides about 542 mg.
Immunity: Plant foods like sweet potatoes that are high in both vitamin C and beta-carotene offer an immunity boost from their powerful combination of nutrients.