KOMPAS.com – Cilembu sweet potatoes are known as a favorite snack because of their natural sweet taste.
However, are sweet potatoes safe for blood sugar levels, especially for diabetes sufferers? Following is the complete review.
Cilembu sweet potato is safe for blood sugar
Cilembu sweet potatoes have a lower glycemic index (GI) than carbohydrate sources such as rice, wheat flour or bread.
The glycemic index is a measure of how quickly foods containing carbohydrates can increase blood sugar levels.
Also read: Where does Cilembu sweet potato taste come from, is it soaked in sugar or honey?
General Chairperson of the Association of Indonesian Traditional Medicine and Herbal Medicine Developers (PDPOTJI), Inggrid Tania, revealed that Cilembu sweet potatoes are a safe alternative for diabetes sufferers.
“The glycemic index is not high, so diabetes sufferers who still need carbohydrates can choose Cilembu sweet potatoes as an alternative,” he explained.
Even though consuming Cilembu sweet potatoes can still increase blood sugar levels, the increase process is slow, not as fast as when consuming rice or bread.
So that cilembu sweet potatoes are safe for blood sugar
Even though it has a low glycemic index, diabetes sufferers still need to limit their consumption of cilembu sweet potatoes according to their health conditions.
Ingrid suggests that the safe amount of consumption depends on the severity of a person’s diabetes.
“Cilembu sweet potatoes should be used as a snack in limited portions and not consumed every day. “It’s best just as a distraction for a few days every week,” he added.
Apart from the tubers, Cilembu sweet potato leaves are also useful for helping control blood sugar levels.
Also read: 5 Ways to Cook Soft and Soft Cilembu Sweet Potatoes
Several studies show that consuming Cilembu sweet potato leaves can reduce blood sugar levels.
These leaves can be an additional option for diabetes sufferers who want to control blood sugar levels naturally.
Cilembu sweet potato nutritional content
As a source of carbohydrates, Cilembu sweet potatoes also provide sufficient energy for activities. Based on Indonesian Food Composition Data, every 100 grams of Cilembu sweet potato contains:
- Energy: 186 calories
- Carbohydrates: 44.3 grams
Apart from that, Cilembu sweet potatoes help improve the digestive system and increase the frequency of bowel movements.
Illustration of Cilembu sweet potato
