Sweet potatoes has to be the best root vegetable on the face of this planet earth in my opinion. It is great for so many conditions especially at regulating insulin for Pancreas as well as providing top nourishment for the Stomach and Spleen. These 3 organs are partnered together in TICM.
Many of my patients ask me what to consume upon rising and if breakfast is really indeed the most important meal of the day. I tell them that yes, breakfast is the most important meal of the day and to start incorporating sweet potatoes into their breakfast routine. Why?
Our body clock, or circadian rhythm, is the internal system that regulates vital energy (Qi) throughout the body in 2 hour organ and meridian specific intervals. From 7am - 9am the organ in the spotlight is the Stomach. It needs nourishment from a warm and invigorating breakfast. The Stomach resonates with warm foods because it helps keep the digestive fire burning for the entire day. The warmer the Stomach, the better your entire body, including immune system function.
From 9am - 11am it is the Spleen and Pancreas at work. If you look at a sweet potato, you can see the shape resembles a Pancreas. That is because our bodies mirror nature. Our answers are right in front of us if we just tune in. The Spleen supports metabolism and converts nutrients into energy and digestion is at its high, so it again needs fuel to do so.
Tip: If you are experiencing strong allergies at this time your Spleen can have some deficiency. Grab some Spleen and Liver herbal medicine from your TICM doctor to help balance your deficiency.
Sweet potatoes are considered a warm energy (yang) food. The sun is also yang, so when we rise it is best to consume something warm to kick start your metabolism and help the body after it has been detoxing all night. Sweet potatoes are high in vitamin E, B6, C and potassium. The skin is fiber rich and the remarkable color of the potato indicates high levels of carotenoids, like beta-carotene. Foods rich in beta-carotene are high in antioxidants, which slow down the aging process and help to protect against colon and prostate cancers.
Also, yellow and orange coloured foods support the Stomach and Spleen as each organ has a colour, taste, smell, sound, etc associated with it. Sweet potatoes are considered sweet and warm which correspond to the preferred taste and temperature with the Stomach and Spleen.
The Stomach is associated with the element Earth. Foods grown in soil in the Earth like sweet potatoes also support the Stomach's ultimate functioning.
Sweet potatoes can be roasted, baked, boiled and mashed and eaten savory or sweet. That is why it's another great option for breakfast because you can have it sweet with some cinnamon and walnuts or eat it whatever way takes your fancy.
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