Sweet potato, worth the gamble?

[Andy_nut]

Just a quickie for any type 2s out there.

I am currently working on a low carb diet and am considering having a baked sweet potato with my chilli tonight as i have had very few carbs all day.

What kind of effect have people experienced from sweet potato compared to a regular potato (baked?)

I am just after thoughts, I will probably do what I normally do and try it and test my body's reaction

Cheers
Andy

[slipperyelm]

Somewhere around here there is a post from me about testing sweet potatoes on myself. I was really happy to find that it barely effects my BG when I eat only 1/2 cup. Now, regular potatoes seem to be one of the absolutely worst things for my BG. Horrible!

The reason I was so happy for sweet potato to be so easy to handle was that I have them growing in my garden. There will be about a bushel of them to dig. And to eat! :)

[princesslinda]

Hi Andy: I have a small sweet potato about once a week and bake it. When its done, I open it and add butter, 2 pkts of splenda and a few shakes of cinnamon and mix it all together. My blood sugar tolerates this well.

I do make sure that when I have this, I have some protein (steak or grilled chicken usually) with this and a salad (usu. with a vinaigarette dressing). I've never had JUST a sweet potato by itself.

I can't guarantee how you'll do with this yourself, just be sure and check 2 hrs afterwards and see what results you get.

I also sometimes peel and slice the sweet potatoes into either rounds or wedges and do baked sweet potato fries... I put the sweet potato pieces into a bowl, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with cumin and red pepper flakes. I bake at 375 until gold brown and thoroughly cooked...a nice change!

You'll have to let us know how your sweet potato experiement works out.

[wiseguy]

Sweet potatoes have a minimal effect on my BG levels but I'm sure that this is not the case with everyone. You're right, the only way to find out is to try and test.

[caswellhb]

Sweet potato should be fine. Yum.
Just start out with a smaller amount than you usually have and test often.

Heather.

[ladytaz]

Sweet Potatoes YuM!! I haven't noticed a problem with them, but as always, we're all different. You'll never know unless you try it out. ;)

[MJB]

Check out this recipe, very, very good!

Rachael Ray: Sweet-Potato and Sausage Hash recipe - Every Day with Rachael Ray (http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipe/30653/)

[princesslinda]

That sweet potato/sausage hash looks great...i'd never thought of doing that on my own. Have you tried it?

[Penny]

I have been having sweet potato anytime the family has potato of any kind. I bake mine when they have baked potatoes, make fries from one when everyone else has fries, and even mash a sweet potato when they are having regular. Unless I eat something else with lots of carbs, my BS will be very good after I have the sweet potato. One morning I even had one for breakfast (along with a couple strips of bacon and an egg) and was low 2 hours later. I read someplace about why this happens, but can't remember where it was...I may have googled it. :confused:

[MJB]

Yes Linda, it tastes as good as it looks. I like to top a plate with some over medium fried eggs.

[princesslinda]

Yes Linda, it tastes as good as it looks. I like to top a plate with some over medium fried eggs.

As Rachael would say "YUUUMMMOOO."

I have a sweet potato/chicken recipe I make in the fall (not sure why not in the summer or spring:o ): I got it from a Southern LIving Magazine.

Cook 4 skinless/boneless chicken breasts in a little olive oil until brown....pour in a can of chicken broth, add 3 peeled and chopped sweet potatoes and 1 cup frozen green beans, sprinkle with garlic powder or chopped garlic and oregano, bring to a boil until potatoes are tender and chicken is thoroughly cooked (about 20 minutes).

[Mich]

Mmmmm. that sausage & Sweet Potato Hash does sound good!

I eat a medium baked sweet potato in its skin--about one cup. The skin makes it not hit as fast. A cup is a little over 40 grams.

It only takes 1/2 c of regular white potato to be 25 grams! I've always had much better luck with sweet potato.

If I just HAVE to have regular potatoes or rice, I keep it to 1/2 c most of the time.

[mho357]

Andy,

This might be a bit late for you (unless you have a really late meal tonight) but I've had good luck with baked sweet potatoes.

As others have stated - be sure to test - what works for me might not work for you.

Cheers,

M

[Andy_nut]

Well folks, the results are in (well they were last night).

And the winnner is.... ME!!! I had NO rise in my BG 2 hours after eating my chilli with a small baked sweet potato.

Woo hoo, I have a friendly carb to work with!!!

[ladytaz]

Good deal, Andy!! :0)

[owlyn]

Not a T2, but Sweet Potatos and Yams are an excellent nutritional value. The glycemic index is very low, not particularly carb intensive anyway (strange as that seems), have fiber, and are full of flavinoids and other antioxidants. Now, if you add marshmallows or corn syrup or maple syrup, well, you probably aren't reading by now anyway.

[slipperyelm]

Andy, that's great! I'm really happy for you!

Doesn't it seems weird that something that tastes and feels in the mouth so carby does so little to the BG? And they are so sweet, too!

Now for those of you who are not US southerners, but who like pumpkin pie---take a lesson and make sweet potato CUSTARD for deserts. Make it like pumpkin pie filling, but bake with sweetener instead of sugar and use no crust, just bake in a glass pie pan or pyrex dish.

I'm surprised to see this number of people who like sweet potatoes. Most people I run across basically hate them. I hated them as a child, but loved them ever since my early 20's.

There is some research being done on sweet potatoes to see if an insulin enhancing substance is in them. Cool, huh?

[mho357]

... I'm surprised to see this number of people who like sweet potatoes. Most people I run across basically hate them. I hated them as a child, but loved them ever since my early 20's.


There are people who hate sweet potatoes? I've always liked them - especially baked with butter - mmmmm! I guess I'm lucky?

M

[volleyball]

Just as with potatoes, sweet potatoes and yams have many varieties. So test with each one.
I've tried ( not very hard) but have not taken a liking to sweet potatoes, must be the yankee in me

[pcaos]

Congrats Andy - nice to see a postitive outcome.

Another way I have sweet potato is BBQ'ed - just thin slices on the hotplate - delicious.:)

[bryan42]

Cant do potatoes at all, without spiking!