Candied Yams: The Best Tasting Food For Your Brain?

Candied yams or candy yams as many affectionately call them, have grown more popular in recent years. Better growing and storing techniques have helped to fuel the popularity of yams and sweet potatoes. In addition, because of the availability the prices and have remained affordable compared to other forms of produce.

Another benefit is the high amount of vitamins and nutrients these vegetables contain. For example, potassium, fiber, beta carotene, thiamine and others. But what more experts are discovering is the high amounts of vitamins and nutrients that are healthy for the brain.

Yams help to nourish the brain, because of the high amounts of B6, a vitamin that’s essential for the manufacturing of neurotransmitters in the brain. The nervous system depends on these neurotransmitters to communicate messages within the brain. For example, messages that regulate our moods, our ability to relax, think clearer and remember facts.

In fact, all B vitamins help our brain cells talk to each other by helping to produce dopamine and serotonin. Now are you starting to see why more people are calling candied yams the best tasting foods for the brain? And why people should include more yams or sweet potatoes in their diets?

Security Guard For The Brain

This miracle vegetable also contains high amounts of antioxidants. Antioxidants help guard and protect our brain from free radicals or brain cell damage. Another benefit of eating food that contain antioxidants is they help keep us from accumulating brain rust and helps to rid the brain from rust that’s already formed. Free radicals can cause wear and tear on our brain cells and keeps them from communicating with each other.

That’s why it’s essential to eat foods that fight free radicals. Why? Because when our brain cells stop communicating efficiently with each other it causes things like memory loss, dementia and Alzheimer’s, according to a recent University of California study. The Journal of the American Medical Association published a study in 2002 that found taking high doses of vitamins C and E may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. And several studies have found patients with Alzheimer’s or dementia have low levels of vitamins C and E in their systems.

Although vitamin supplements is better than nothing, antioxidants from foods like yams might be even more protective than vitamin supplements, according to the above studies. Why? Because other substances in the foods seem to work together to increase the antioxidant activity, known as the tag team affect.

Healthier Candied Yams Cooking Tips

As candied yams continue to grow more popular, it continues to adapt to healthier cooking methods. Now you can find more health friendly recipes popping up on more websites. In the past, many critics have expressed concern about the high amounts of fat, calories and sugar candied yams recipes are traditionally known for. But thanks to creative cooks and nutritionist joining hands and working their magic, healthier versions have come to light. Many health experts suggest using Agave Nectar, Organic Honey, or Orange Juice instead of processed sugar. Also, instead of using butter try Organic Pressed Coconut Oil.

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