From ancient times to the present day, everyone knows that sweet potatoes are one of the healthiest foods for the body. In modern life, many people have the habit of eating sweet potatoes every day, thinking that it is both good for their health and helps maintain a beautiful figure, especially for women.

However, no matter how healthy sweet potatoes are, eating them incorrectly can still cause unwanted side effects, even illness. The story of the woman below is a prime example.

This information has already been published in the mainstream press, but I'm sharing it again in the article below for everyone to know!

Specifically, Taiwanese nutritionist Li Wanping shared on a health program called "Focus 2.0" about a 60-year-old housewife who was not obese and paid close attention to her health. She heard that boiled and steamed foods were healthier than other cooking methods, so she regularly steamed sweet potatoes and pumpkins for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

She believed that this cooking method was simple, convenient, and extremely good for her health, so she maintained a regular diet using it for a long time. Unexpectedly, after some time, she went for a medical check-up and was diagnosed with moderate fatty liver disease.

This left the woman extremely confused. She couldn't understand why she would get sick despite eating a healthy diet.

Eating sweet potatoes incorrectly can cause health problems (photo: dSD)

Nutrition expert Li Wanping explains that both sweet potatoes and pumpkins belong to the group of starchy foods. Consuming too much starch converts it into triglycerides, which accumulate in the body's organs, easily leading to fatty liver disease.

Furthermore, this woman consumed these two types of food for all three meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) for an extended period, resulting in excessive carbohydrate intake while protein intake was insufficient, leading to nutritional deficiencies.

Expert Li Wanping reminds us that no matter how healthy a food is, it's still necessary to balance the intake and include other foods to ensure adequate nutrition and prevent illness.

Dr. Zhenrong, a renowned Taiwanese (China) physician specializing in hepatology and gastroenterology, once shared that patients with fatty liver disease have a 5% higher risk of developing diabetes, which also increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction and is even linked to liver cancer, esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, and breast cancer.

Fatty liver disease occurs when a large amount of fat accumulates in the liver, hindering the function of liver cells and causing serious health problems. Nutrition experts point out that fatty liver disease is not necessarily caused by high-fat foods.

Eating foods you consider healthy but doing so incorrectly can also lead to the accumulation of visceral fat. Additionally, American research shows that low levels of vitamin C in the body increase the risk of developing fatty liver disease.

Illustrative image, source: dSD

In addition to paying attention to carbohydrate intake and a balanced diet, nutritionist Li Wanping shared a US study that found that low levels of vitamin C in the body are associated with a higher incidence of fatty liver disease. Higher levels of vitamin C help inhibit the development of fatty liver disease.

Some fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamin C include: guava, kiwi, oranges, lemons, strawberries, bell peppers, broccoli, and bitter melon.

Why you shouldn't eat too much sweet potato

No matter how much you crave sweet potatoes, you should only allow yourself to eat less than 300 grams. Sweet potatoes easily cause the digestive tract to produce a large amount of carbon dioxide (CO2), and eating too much can lead to bloating and belching. It's best not to eat too much on an empty stomach and only eat sweet potatoes, as this can easily stimulate the secretion of stomach acid, potentially leading to abdominal discomfort.

Why should you limit your food intake in the evening?

Eating sweet potatoes in the evening can easily cause acid reflux, especially for those with weak stomachs or elderly people with poor digestion, as it can lead to bloating. Furthermore, because metabolism slows down at night, digestion becomes even more difficult, potentially leading to insomnia. It's better to eat sweet potatoes for breakfast with whole milk or yogurt, along with some nuts and green vegetables, for a complete and nutritious breakfast.

You shouldn't eat sweet potatoes on an empty stomach.

Sweet potatoes contain sugar, and eating too much, especially on an empty stomach, can increase gastric acid secretion, leading to heartburn, indigestion, and bloating. To avoid this, sweet potatoes should be thoroughly cooked, boiled, or baked, or a small amount of alcohol can be added during cooking to break down the enzymes. If you experience bloating, you can drink ginger water to alleviate it. Sweet potatoes should not be eaten on an empty stomach.