A Dietician in the Department of
Dietetics, University of Benin
Teaching Hospital, Mr Peter
Stephen, on Tuesday advised
against peeling of yam before
cooking it.
Stephen told the News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) in Benin that
cooking yam with the skin
reduced its sugar content.
He noted that yam and rice had
high Glycemic Index (GI) which
increased blood sugar level, and
advised that yam should not be
peeled before cooking to reduce
the sugar content.
NAN reports that GI is a
numerical scale used to indicate
how fast and how high a
particular food can raise blood
glucose (blood sugar) level.
“The skin of yam that is normally
peeled off contains proteins and
vitamin B Complex.
“It also has soluble fibre that
absorbs sugar inside the yam.
‘’When the yam is properly
cooked, you peel off the skin
before eating.
“When you cook your yam with
the skin, it will not increase the
blood sugar level.
“By the time you eat the yam
with vegetables, it gives you a
better result,” he said.
Stephen listed foods with low GI
to include tomatoes, soya beans
and beans.
He noted that such foods had
natural substances lowered
blood sugar level.
He advised people, especially
diabetic patients, to mix foods
with low GI with those with high
GI in the ratio of 2:1 to maintain
a good blood sugar level.
“Rice has high GI; so, if you want
to eat it, mix it with food with
low GI such as beans.
“If you take five spoons of rice,
you have to take 10 spoons of
beans to help to slow down the
rate sugar is absorbed in the
blood.
“Even if you are not diabetic, you
have to control your sugar level
because prevention is better
than cure,” the dietician advised.
(NAN)
R