Sweet Potato

Scientific Name: Ipomoea batatas

Description:

The sweet potato is a dicotyledonous plant that spreads as a ground creeper.  It is a commonly grown rootcrop with enlarged fleshy, starchy, sweet tasting tuberous roots. Its flesh varies in color from white, yellow, orange, and purple.The heart-shaped or palmately lobed leaves and shoots are eaten as greens.

Health Benefits:

Sweet potatoes are rich in simple starch,complex carbohydrates, dietary fiber, beta carotene(dark orange variety), carotene (pink & yellow varieties) Vitamin B6, and vitamin C.

Because of its high beta-carotene and carotene content, sweet potatoes are recommended for those with Vitamin A deficiency.  It is also found to stabilize blood sugar and lower insulin resistance

Sweet potato is a good source of iron, calcium, potassium.  It also contains proteins and other trace minerals.

The leaves of the sweet potato are a good source of polyphenolic and phenolic antioxidants. Purple sweet potato have anthocyanins which is also an antioxidant.

The phytochemicals in sweet potato particularly flavonoids and phenols may have significant antioxidant and anticancer activities.

Indications and Directions of Use:

1.       Acne

Crush leaves and apply to acne.

2.       Constipation

Eat cooked sweet potato leaves preferably during supper.  This will work while you are sleeping.

3.       Dengue

Make a decoction using sweet potato leaves by boiling it in water for 5 minutes.  It is known to increase platelet counts.

4.       Diabetes

Include in your diet, sweet potato leaves and shoots especially the purple variety.

5.       Diarrhea

Boil roots and drink.

6.        Sores and Furuncles

 Pound fresh sweet potato.  Apply over affected area.

THOUGH THE CONTENT OF THIS BLOG HAD BEEN TRIED & TESTED AND HAD BEEN USED AS FOLK/HERBAL MEDICINE IT IS STILL BEST TO CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR.

Potato

Scientific name: Solanum tuberosum

Description:

Potato plants are herbaceous perennials with rough, pinnate leaves. They bear star-shaped flowers, 3-4 cm in diameter ranging from white, pink, red, blue, or violet flowers with yellow stamens. The roots produces several rounded tubers underground. For those with white flowers, the tubers generally have white skins, while pinkish skins from those varieties with colored flowers.

Nutritional and Medicinal Value:

The potato contains vitamins and minerals as well as phytochemicals, such as carotenoids and polyphenols.
It is high in carbohydrate content, predominantly starch which acts like a fiber in our body and prevents colon cancer.  The resistant starch content in potatoes improve glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity.  Potatoes are also high on the glycemic index (GI) and it can lower plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentration.
The amount of resistant starch in potatoes significantly increases when potatoes are cooked and then cooled.

The protein content of a potato is mostly contained in a thin layer just under its skin.

Potatoes have Vitamin C and are high in Potassium, Phosphorus, Magnesium and Calcium.

Indications and Directions of use:

1. Scalds 
 Cut a thin slice of potato and place it on the affected area.

2. Mumps 
 Cut a thin slice of potato. Soak it in vinegar and place on the affected area.  Do this several times a day.


THOUGH THE CONTENT OF THIS BLOG HAD BEEN TRIED & TESTED AND HAD BEEN USED AS FOLK/HERBAL MEDICINE IT IS STILL BEST TO CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR.