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.