Post by J65 on Jul 27, 2004 13:46:17 GMT -5
Question:
What's the difference between a yam and a sweet potato?
Denise / Virginia
Answer:
A true yam is a large starchy root that's native to Africa and Asia. Yams can weigh up to 100 pounds and are rarely available in the United States. Sweet potatoes, on the other hand, are native to the United States.
There are two varieties of sweet potato. One is moist with orange flesh. The other is drier with pale yellow flesh. The orange-fleshed sweet potato is commonly — and inaccurately — called a yam. Sometimes, grocery stores incorrectly label this variety of sweet potato with the nutrient content for true yams. This is unfortunate because true yams don't have any vitamin A. But both varieties of sweet potato are rich in vitamin A as well as in vitamin C and fiber.
Here are some tips for buying, storing and preparing sweet potatoes:
* Look for firm sweet potatoes with smooth, bright, uniformly colored skins, free from signs of decay.
* Store sweet potatoes in a cool, dry place, never in the refrigerator.
* Sweet potatoes may be baked, boiled, steamed or microwaved.
* For flavor, add cinnamon, brown sugar, grated lemon or orange rind, peeled and sliced apples, raisins, drained canned pineapple, or nuts.
Sweet potatoes: A nutritional analysis (one-half cup baked)
Calories: 100
Nutrients
Amount
Percent daily value
Vitamin A
19,218 IU*
384 percent
Vitamin C
20 milligrams
33 percent
Fiber
3 grams
12 percent
www.ohiohealth.com/healthreference/reference/E82D8724-720A-42F9-96BB2A95FDAA4C87.htm?category=questions
What's the difference between a yam and a sweet potato?
Denise / Virginia
Answer:
A true yam is a large starchy root that's native to Africa and Asia. Yams can weigh up to 100 pounds and are rarely available in the United States. Sweet potatoes, on the other hand, are native to the United States.
There are two varieties of sweet potato. One is moist with orange flesh. The other is drier with pale yellow flesh. The orange-fleshed sweet potato is commonly — and inaccurately — called a yam. Sometimes, grocery stores incorrectly label this variety of sweet potato with the nutrient content for true yams. This is unfortunate because true yams don't have any vitamin A. But both varieties of sweet potato are rich in vitamin A as well as in vitamin C and fiber.
Here are some tips for buying, storing and preparing sweet potatoes:
* Look for firm sweet potatoes with smooth, bright, uniformly colored skins, free from signs of decay.
* Store sweet potatoes in a cool, dry place, never in the refrigerator.
* Sweet potatoes may be baked, boiled, steamed or microwaved.
* For flavor, add cinnamon, brown sugar, grated lemon or orange rind, peeled and sliced apples, raisins, drained canned pineapple, or nuts.
Sweet potatoes: A nutritional analysis (one-half cup baked)
Calories: 100
Nutrients
Amount
Percent daily value
Vitamin A
19,218 IU*
384 percent
Vitamin C
20 milligrams
33 percent
Fiber
3 grams
12 percent
www.ohiohealth.com/healthreference/reference/E82D8724-720A-42F9-96BB2A95FDAA4C87.htm?category=questions
