Thursday, February 3, 2011

Sweet Potatoes vs. Yams

I went to Harmon's in St. George last week to pick up some sweet potatoes. What is the difference between sweet potatoes and yams? Well, most everyone calls yams, sweet potatoes, but most of what you see in the store are sweet potatoes. According to the North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission, sweet potatoes are grown in the US, primarily North Carolina. So really, both varieties above are really sweet potatoes. A true yam is a starchy edible root that is not smooth, but rough and scaly. If you're wanting a great source of vitamin A, then you better stick with sweet potatoes. In a one cup serving you will get the same amount of beta-carotene as you'd get in 16 cups of broccoli. They are also a great source of vitamin E and other essential nutrients. A super food for sure!

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