Sweet Potatoes and Hormone Health

In my opinion, there is really nothing better than some freshly, roasted sweet potatoes. I like adding them to a salad, side dish or eating them on their own.

There really is something soothing and comforting in eating carbs….

Craving or wanting carbs isn’t necessarily a bad thing. That’s why I want to highlight some of the benefits of high quality carbohydrates.

And there is no better option than the sweet potato!

A sweet potato is also a wonderful food to incorporate in the diet if you’re someone struggling with PCOS or hormone imbalance because it’s so nutrient dense. And it satisfies that need for carbs.

Keep reading below to learn more! It’s some real exciting stuff!

Three Top Benefits of Sweet Potatoes

Resistant Starch Benefits

Sweet potatoes are considered resistant starches when served cooked and chilled. The temperature changes the molecular structure. With the structure change, the food now has more favorable benefits on the blood sugar and insulin response. 

Sleep Benefits

Another benefit of the sweet potato is that it helps to increase the production of serotonin in our bodies. This neurotransmitter helps to regulate mood. Considering women with PCOS and hormone imbalance tend to struggle with mood swings… why not take that benefit! If serotonin gets too low, it increases the risk of depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, and even sweet cravings.

Adding a serving of sweet potatoes to dinner can help improve sleep. Sleep plays a major role in hormone regulation! In fact, not getting enough sleep increases risk for metabolic disease, weight gain and hormone issues!

A Beneficial Source of Carbohydrates

A common diet culture belief is that women need to cut out carbs to lose weight. This just isn’t true. Carbs are a part of a hormone friendly diet!

When we cut out carbs, we usually crave them more. Then end up binging and snacking on the wrong types of carbs. Adding ~ 2 servings of high quality carbs daily can be key to women being successful on their health journey!

I hope this article has inspired you to look at carbs differently and find ways to add them in to support your health.

Want to try a tasty new recipe? Check out one of my favorite sweet potato recipes below.

If you would like to learn more about hormone health, be sure to check out additional resources here!

Ingredients

Serves: 2

• 1 medium sweet potato
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 cup plain organic yogurt or dairy-free option
• 1 apple, cubed
• 2 tablespoons pecans, chopped
• 2 tablespoons almond butter

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Wash and lightly dry sweet potato. Poke with a fork and place on rack or in glass pan. Bake for about an hour or until soft.
2. Peel cooled sweet potato and slice. Set to the side. In two bowls, first place yogurt if including. Mix yogurt with vanilla extract. Then add slices of sweet potato. Sprinkle cinnamon, add nuts and apples. Then drizzle with nut butter.

Disclaimer

This content is from the opinion of The Healing Roots, Nutrition Services, LLC doing business as Women’s Nutrition Clinic and is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of treatment or medical advice from a doctor. 

All viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither The Healing Roots, Nutrition Services, LLC doing business as Women’s Nutrition Clinic nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content and all medical decisions that are made after reviewing this content is at the viewer’s own risk.

All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program. All content posted belongs to The Healing Roots, Nutrition Services, LLC doing business as Women’s Nutrition Clinic and are protected by copyright laws.

You are not permitted to copy or distribute this content without The Healing Roots, Nutrition Services, LLC’s permission. Enjoy the information & thank you for viewing!