I was preparing for my juicing class last week and came across the juiciest little tidbit about Sweet Potatoes. They are considered a "power food", meaning that they are very therapeutic.
These pretty babies contribute to healthy connective tissue and even speed the healing of wounds. They reduce the risk of cancer and osteoporosis and support healthy bones in general. They also help balance cholesterol levels and protect against heart disease.
ALL valuable attributes, but that's not what caught my eye:
Some research has indicated that consuming sweet potatoes may increase the likelihood of conceiving twins!
These Twin-Inducing Tubers contain high levels of hormone-like agents that are catalysts for the production of a Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH). FSH stimulates the ovaries to produce more than one ovum (egg), thereby increasing the likelihood of a double conception! So if you ever wanted to really take a crack at having two, I suppose a juicer and sweet potatoes by the truckload should go to the top of the shopping list.
If you really wanted to get serious about it I would juice at least 2 per day. Begin juicing them for months prior to conception to ensure that you are producing the Follicle Simulating Hormone required to release 2 eggs. It's no guarantee but it beats trying all the weird positions that (albeit, are fun) don't really have any basis in physiology.
As an added benefit they increase the production of serotonin in the brain (YES, sweet potatoes make you happy), they are rich in every vitamin under the sun including the big dogs Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Sodium, Vitamin C, all the B-Vitamins, and it's antioxidant quercetin has an excellent anti-inflammatory property that can help with allergies and to control pain.
They are commonly confused with Yams but they are not even distant relatives so be sure to pick up the right produce for you "Twin- Chasers!"
This should be some serious motivation for some of you to begin juicing (and with sweet potatoes) everyday- or to avoid them completely, haha. You can juice them (as I did this morning), they give the juice an almost "malt-like" flavor. You can bake them and they are lovely with real butter, a dash of cinnamon and or nutmeg and they dress up any run-of-the-mill dinner if you ask me:)
Try juicing them and let me know what you think!