Sweet Potatoes Are Not the Same as Yams (and That Matters)Despite what grocery stores label, most “yams” sold in supermarkets are actually sweet potatoes.True yams are starchier, drier, and much less sweet. Sweet potatoes are softer, sweeter, and higher in beta-carotene.
Why this matters: their blood sugar impact, digestion, and cooking behavior are very different. If you’re managing blood sugar, confusing the two can lead to bad choices.2. They Can Spike Blood Sugar More Than You ThinkSweet potatoes are often recommended for diabetics, but preparation method changes everything.Boiled: lower glycemic impactBaked or roasted: much higher glycemic indexMashed: spikes fastestIf you’re insulin resistant or prediabetic, eating large baked sweet potatoes regularly can quietly push blood sugar higher than expected.3. They Are Loaded with Vitamin A – Sometimes Too MuchSweet potatoes are one of the richest sources of beta-carotene (vitamin A precursor) in nature. That’s great… in moderation.Too much vitamin A over time may cause:HeadachesDry skinNauseaLiver stress (in extreme cases)If you already take multivitamins or eat lots of carrots, pumpkin, and spinach, it’s easy to overdo it.4.
Not Always “Weight-Loss Friendly”Sweet potatoes are often marketed as a diet food, but one medium sweet potato can contain 100–120 calories and 20–25g of carbs.That’s not bad —Sweet Potatoes Are Not the Same as Yams (and That Matters)Despite what grocery stores label, most “yams” sold in supermarkets are actually sweet potatoes.True yams are starchier, drier, and much less sweet. Sweet potatoes are softer, sweeter, and higher in beta-carotene.
Why this matters: their blood sugar impact, digestion, and cooking behavior are very different. If you’re managing blood sugar, confusing the two can lead to bad choices.2. They Can Spike Blood Sugar More Than You ThinkSweet potatoes are often recommended for diabetics, but preparation method changes everything.Boiled: lower glycemic impactBaked or roasted: much higher glycemic indexMashed: spikes fastestIf you’re insulin resistant or prediabetic, eating large baked sweet potatoes regularly can quietly push blood sugar higher than expected.3. They Are Loaded with Vitamin A – Sometimes Too MuchSweet potatoes are one of the richest sources of beta-carotene (vitamin A precursor) in nature. That’s great… in moderation.
Too much vitamin A over time may cause:HeadachesDry skinNauseaLiver stress (in extreme cases)If you already take multivitamins or eat lots of carrots, pumpkin, and spinach, it’s easy to overdo it.4. Not Always “Weight-Loss Friendly”Sweet potatoes are often marketed as a diet food, but one medium sweet potato can contain 100–120 calories and 20–25g of carbs.That’s not bad