Sweet Potatoes & Blood Sugar: Cooking Method is Key for Glucose Control

• Sweet potatoes are nutritious, rich in vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants, supporting immune health and potentially offering anticancer properties.
• The glycemic index (GI) measures how quickly a food raises blood sugar; sweet potatoes' GI varies significantly with cooking method.
• Baked sweet potatoes have the highest GI (up to 94), causing rapid blood sugar spikes similar to white rice or instant mashed potatoes.
• Fried sweet potatoes have a slightly lower GI (around 76) due to fat content slowing digestion, but still behave like high-GI sugary snacks.
• Boiling sweet potatoes results in the lowest GI, especially with longer boiling times and skin on, making them ideal for blood sugar control due to increased resistant starch.

Why It Matters: Boiling sweet potatoes is the best cooking method for managing blood sugar levels due to its lower glycemic index.