You Probably Have This In Your Kitchen Right Now!
Sweet Potatoes are one of my favorites! They are something you can incorporate in your diet to help keep you healthy and happy! I love to mix sweet potatoes with a protein like black beans for a real satisfying meal for nurturing the body and soul. It is super important to have foods that help you fight off depression and anxiety. Sweet Potatoes are full of Beta Carotene, 214% to be exact. Beta Carotene is otherwise known as Vitamin A. Vitamin A helps so many things such as: depression, anxiety, decreasing symptoms related to asthma caused by exercise. These orange beauties can help to prevent certain types of cancers, skin disorders, high blood pressures, heartburn, heart disease, alcoholism, epilepsy, headaches and arthritis.
If you want to up your Beta Carotene intake then add a little fat to your sweet potatoes. Just 3-5 grams of fat per meal will significantly increase the Vitamin A. Be choosy on the kind of fat you add. Olive oil is super healthy in omegas when NOT heated! I found out after I wrote my 1st cookbook that canola and olive oil turns into a carcinogen when heated. Now, I choose oils such as coconut, sunflower, sesame, almond, hemp, avocado and flax oils. Coconut oil is hands down the best one to use hot or not. Always buy organic and especially go for Virgin or Extra Virgin for best health benefits.
Here is the nutritional facts for 1 Cup of Sweet Potato.
Vitamin A 214%
Vitmain C 52%
Manganese 50%
Copper 36%
Panothenic acid 35%
Vitamin B6 34%
Biotin 29%
Potassium 27%
Fiber 26%
Vitamin B3 19%
Vitamin B1 18%
Vitamin B2 16%
Phosphorus 15%
I would like to share one my favorite recipes that includes the good fat to up the Vitamin A intake. The seasoning is also a good immune booster. When you add the Sesame seeds you are adding a whole new level of nutrients and super amounts of copper that help the muscles and arthritis. When I am feeling a little serotonin depleted or have high anxiety, these fries really help chill me out!
Sweet Potato Fries
3-4 medium size sweet potatoes
1/2 tbsp extra virgin coconut or sesame oil
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp celery salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp onion powder
1 tsp sesame seeds optional
- Preheat oven 450 Degrees
- Slice sweet potatoes into julienne strips. You can use a hand crinkle cutter or mandolin with the 7mm julienne.
- Drizzle oil over the fries. Sprinkle each spice over the fries and mix well. Place foil or parchment paper on a baking sheet. Spread fries out evenly. Try to avoid overlapping.
- Bake at 450 for 20-30 min, flipping over occasionally.
