Do you ever find yourself unable to resist sweet potatoes? While cravings for salt and sugar are common, a desire for sweet potatoes might seem a bit unusual. Even though they’re often seen as a side dish, a craving for sweet potatoes could be your body’s way of telling you what it truly requires.
One of the primary reasons you might crave this orange vegetable is hunger. According to Simply Called Food, you might long for a sweet potato because you enjoy its taste or need a food rich in carbohydrates when hungry. Sweet potatoes are packed with carbohydrates and fiber. A 100-gram baked sweet potato without salt contains 90 calories, approximately 20.7 grams of carbs, and 3.3 grams of dietary fiber, as noted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Carbohydrates are crucial for our overall health and proper functioning. “They play an important role in a balanced eating plan. We desire carbs because they are our body’s preferred fuel source, especially for activity and exercise,” registered dietitian Anna Taylor tells the Cleveland Clinic. In other words, carbs aren’t bad, and neither is craving sweet potatoes.
Other reasons you’re craving sweet potatoes
In addition to being high in carbohydrates, sweet potatoes are also rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants (according to Simply Called Food). If you’re craving sweet potatoes, it might be a sign that your body needs more nutrients. Think vitamin C, A, B, E, potassium, and manganese — all of which are abundant in this orange vegetable, as shared by Healthline. Moreover, sweet potatoes contain plant compounds like chlorogenic acid, anthocyanins, and beta-carotene, which gives them their vibrant orange color. However, nutrient deficiencies aren’t always the cause.
According to registered dietitian nutritionist Vandana Sheth, cravings “may also be caused by a combination of social, emotional, cultural, and environmental cues” (via Shape). Often, food is connected with different cues, rewarding us when things are going well or providing comfort when they aren’t, such as during heartbreak or when celebrating a new job.
It’s essential to remember that blood sugar fluctuations might also lead you to indulge in sweet potatoes. This could be due to low blood sugar levels or high insulin levels. Sweet potatoes are somewhat in the middle of the glycemic index chart (according to Harvard Health Publishing). Foods higher on the list are absorbed faster and quickly raise glucose levels, while those lower down release glucose steadily. Ultimately, craving sweet potatoes could be your body’s call for energy.
