Recently, a claim about sweet potatoes has been widely circulated on the Internet, that is, "eating sweet potatoes can not only kill 98% of cancer cells, but also lower blood sugar".
This sounds like a myth, but is it true or false?
Uncle Zhang, an amiable retiree, had high blood sugar during a recent check-up and was reminded by a doctor to take precautions against cancer. This scared Uncle Zhang a lot, after all, health is the most important wealth in life.
One day, while browsing the web, he came across the statement that "sweet potatoes can kill 98% of cancer cells and lower blood sugar". This made Uncle Zhang's eyes light up, as if he saw the dawn of hope.
He muttered to himself, "Could it be that sweet potatoes are my lifesaver?"
So, is sweet potatoes really that magical? We must first understand that sweet potatoes are a nutritious food, it contains a variety of vitamins and minerals, and it does have many benefits for our health.
But isn't it an exaggeration to say that it kills 98% of cancer cells?
01
This statement actually originated from a Japanese study. In this study, the scientists found that cooked sweet potatoes had a cancer inhibition rate of up to 98.7%.
However, we need to note that this experiment was carried out under laboratory conditions and used extracts from sweet potatoes and not those that we consume directly. Therefore, we cannot simply apply this result to our daily lives.
02
The GI value of sweet potatoes, that is, the glycemic index, is actually similar to rice, and they are all high GI foods. However, the dietary fiber rich in sweet potatoes can slow down the rise in blood sugar to a certain extent.
Moreover, different cooking methods will also have an impact on the GI value of sweet potatoes. For example, boiled sweet potatoes have a lower GI than roasted sweet potatoes.
So, for diabetics, it's okay to consume sweet potatoes in moderation, but be sure to pay attention to diet control and physical activity.
03
01. Eat sweet potatoes in moderation
First of all, it must be eaten in moderation, and it is best to control it within 1/3 of the total amount of staple food at each meal. Secondly, if you have too much stomach acid secretion, it is recommended not to eat too many sweet potatoes.
Although sweet potatoes are highly nutritious, excessive consumption may cause discomforts such as bloating. At the same time, it is also important not to completely replace staple foods, and to maintain a variety of foods to ensure a balanced nutrition.
Also, you can try making sweet potatoes into sweet potato rice, which will not only increase the nutritional value of the staple food, but also make the rice more delicious.
02. Eat sweet potatoes with other foods
Of course, when eating sweet potatoes, you should also pay attention to other foods, such as vegetables, meat, soy products and dairy products, to maintain a balanced nutrition.
03. Don't eat sweet potatoes on an empty stomach
Do not eat sweet potatoes on an empty stomach to avoid acid reflux or gastric reflux, and do not eat raw or sprouted sweet potatoes because they are not easy to digest and may contain special oxidases that cause bloating, while sprouted sweet potatoes may contain toxins;
04. Sweet potatoes should be peeled
In addition, sweet potatoes should be peeled when eaten, as the skin of sweet potatoes may contain harmful substances such as black spot germs.
Speaking of which, it is not difficult to see that sweet potatoes are indeed a healthy food, but it is not a panacea.
We must not blindly believe some exaggerated claims, but treat it with a scientific attitude. Remember, it's all about maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
In addition to food choices, we also need to pay attention to our lifestyle habits.
For example, get enough sleep, exercise properly, and have a good attitude.
These are all important factors in maintaining good health. Therefore, if we want to live a long and healthy life, it is not enough to eat a certain type of food, but we also need to pay attention to our lifestyle and eating habits in an all-round way.
04
Finally, what I want to say to everyone is that no matter what health problems you encounter, don't blindly believe in the various home remedies and miraculous curative effects on the Internet. We should believe in science and in the professional advice of doctors.
Of course, it is also very important to maintain a positive and optimistic attitude. Remember, a healthy lifestyle is our best doctor.
As for Chamber's question, I would like to say that sweet potatoes are indeed a good food choice, but it does not solve all health problems alone.
If Uncle Zhang wants to improve his blood sugar and prevent cancer, he also needs to combine the doctor's advice and a comprehensive health management plan to achieve it.
I hope that Uncle Zhang can find a healthy way for himself as soon as possible and enjoy a happy life in his old age.