Thursday, March 1, 2012

Information On Yams

Yams, not to be confused with sweet potatoes, are commonly found on the dinner plate, especially around the holidays or a big family dinner. Yams are easy to make and you can find them in most grocery stores.


Appearance


Unlike sweet potatoes, yams are bigger, and more tubular. The size of a yam can vary, but they are generally 10 to 70 centimeters in length, and can be around five to 10 centimeters wide. The skin is a dark, brownish color resembling bark of a tree. The inside color can be either white, yellow or a reddish orange.


Fun Facts


Yams are native to Africa, but different species of yams exist in Asia as well that have been around since 8,000 BC. They can grow up to eight feet long and weigh as much as 100 pounds. Mexican yams, believe it or not, are responsible for the invention of the first birth control pill and other steroids.


Nutrition


Yams are very nutritious and have many properties that help our bodies fight off illness. They are high in fiber, potassium, vitamin C and B6 and magnesium, all of which can do nothing but good to help your body win the race against disease. Yams also have agents that help the anti-aging process and are a believed to help with fertility, especially with conceiving twins.

Tags: sweet potatoes, that help