From:
The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Resource for Healthy Eating by Rebecca Wood
http://store.cybermacro.com/rebecca-...hole-foods.php are these excerpts:
"NIGHTSHADE FAMILY (
Solanaceae)
Nightshade plants are so named because they grow in the shade of the night rather than, like other plants, in the light of the sun. (Corn, a remarkable evolutionary exception, grows during both day and night.) Most nightshades originated in the fertile altiplano region of South America and were introduced to the rest of the world in the fifteenth century. They include three primary crops-potato, tomato, and tobacco.
The nightshades contain a toxic alkaloid, solanine, which seems to adversely affect human calcium balance and may be implicated in health complaints ranging from headaches to arthritis. Both macrobiotic and Ayurvedic medicine recommend using the nightshade vegetables in moderation, especially tomatoes and potatoes, if at all.
In his book The Nightshades and Health, Norman F. Childers, Ph.D., professor of horticulture at Rutgers University, reveals a correlation between rheumatoid arthritis and nightshade consumption. According to his studies, when some people eliminate these foods from their diet, their arthritic symptoms are alleviated or even disappear.
See Chile Pepper; Eggplant; Garden Huckleberry; Ground Cherry; Pepino; Peppers; Potato; Sweet Pepper; Tamarillo; Tomatillo; Tomato. .
and
"SWEET POTATO Boniato, Yam (
Ipomoea hatatas)
The sweet potato is sweet. It is native to South America, a member of the morning glory family, and related to that horrible gar*den nuisance, bindweed. The sweet potato is actually not related to the potato nor to the yam, though very sweet, and dark sweet potatoes are called yams. True yams are native to Africa and are very popular in tropical and subtropical countries.
Health Benefits Higher in sugar than potatoes, sweet potatoes are also an excellent source of carotenoid antioxidants; they also contain calcium. They are high in vitamins A and C, with a fair amount of thiamine. In Oriental medicine, sweet potatoes are valued for nourishing the spleen-pancreas, stomach, and large intestine meridians; for quenching thirst; and for lubricating dry conditions. Sweet potatoes are also valued for building
the kidneys; overconsumption, however may cause abdominat swelling and indigestion. Sweet potatoes reduce pitta and vata.
Use Cooking converts most of the sweet potato's starches and softens it into a sweet and soft, or dry vegetable, depending upon the variety. While candied yams are a classic holiday dish, sweet potatoes can be eaten throughout the year; they can be substituted for squash or carrots in soups, salads, pilafs, and baked goods. Sweet potato pie is a southern classic.
Buying Select smooth-skinned sweet potatoes with tapered ends and no bruises or harvesting scars. Size is of no concern in terms of sweetness or storage capability. Sweet potatoes bruise easily, so handle with care. Store in a cool, dry area. Sweet potatoes are at their peak in late fall. The sweet potato is denser than a potato, SO allow a somewhat smaller serving size per person.
The Jersey or dry sweet potato has a buff skin with a firm yellow flesh. When cooked, it has a fluffy dry texture, similar to a potato, and a delicate (rather than overpowering) sweetness. This potato is more favored in northern states.
The deep orange or purple-skinned sweet potato-also called jewel or garnet yam-has soft, moist flesh colored a flamboyant orange. This sugar-sweet vegetable is suitable as a dessert or as a winter squash substitute."
Thank you, very much.
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Bruce Paine