Sweet potato is a herbaceous vine with long eyelashes that crawl in the knots. The height of the bush is 15-18 cm. The leaves are shaped like a heart or webbed lobes, in long petioles. The flowers sit on the armpits of the leaves; large, funnel-shaped corolla, pink, pale lilac or white. Many varieties do not bloom. Cross pollination, mainly by bees. Fruit - box of 4 seeds; The seeds are black or brown, with a diameter of 3.5-4.5 mm. The sweet potato's side roots are very thickened and form tubers with white, orange, pink or red edible meat.
A tuber weighs 200 g to 3 kg. There are two main varieties of sweet potatoes: one that becomes friable during cooking and another that becomes moist and loose, usually called incorrectly yam. In fact, several varieties of yam are grown in America, but grows exclusively in Florida. If rot has appeared in the sweet potato, it spreads rapidly to the entire root and can give the whole product an unpleasant smell and taste. This rot can appear in the form of dark round or soft and moist spots or in the form of dry and wrinkled spots, discolored and fallen, usually at the end of the root.
It has a relatively low calorie content. In 100 g of this vegetable, only 61 kcal. Moderate sweet potato consumption will not cause overweight.
Sweet potato tubers contain a lot of starch and sugar, so the plant is popularly called "sweet potato." In addition, the plant is rich in protein, carbohydrates, vitamins B, C, PP, A, carotene, calcium, phosphorus, ascorbic acid, and also contains niacin, iron, thiamine, riboflavin. For medical purposes, vegetable starch is widely used. It is used to treat diseases of the gastrointestinal tract as an emollient and enveloping agent. Sweet potatoes can also be used as a vitamin and fortifying agent. Sweet potatoes are believed to contain natural female hormones, in particular, progesterone.
This makes sweet potato and plant preparations a particularly valuable product for women during menopause. Sweet potatoes are a source of delicate fiber and, therefore, are recommended for people suffering from digestive disorders. Especially for those who cannot tolerate the fiber of regular vegetables, such as beets, carrots, etc. In terms of carbohydrates and calcium, it is several times higher than potatoes. To taste, depending on the variety, sweet potatoes also resemble frozen potatoes in a boiled and fried form. Sweet potatoes have a high nutritional value and are rich in vitamins, mainly provitamin A, carotene and minerals. The flavor of sweet potatoes is floury and sweet, and therefore they go well with acidic products: lemon juice, orange peel and spicy spices: pepper and curry. No wonder it's called sweet potato.
Sweet potato tubers resemble boiled sugar beets. Raw roses have a chestnut flavor and are boiled similarly to pumpkin. In salads, sweet potatoes are rubbed raw on a coarse grater. They are boiled (without salt). By the way, it is made a little faster than potatoes. Baked sweet potato is especially tasty. It is good to eat it with pickles.
Sweet potatoes should not be eaten with several sores, because it tends to irritate the mucous membrane of the digestive system. You should refrain from eating sweet potatoes during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. In some cases, individual intolerance is possible.