What Are the Differences Between Yams and Sweet Potatoes?

If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, you may not be able to tell the difference between a sweet potato and a yam. However, if you try both, you will always remember the difference.

Originally, they came from different and unrelated plant families. The botanical name of the Yam is Dioscorea batatas and the sweet potato is Ipomoea batatas. Sweet potatoes are native to South America, while yam has a natural habitat in Africa. You can also buy fresh hard yam tuber online & shop real yam at Kiri Foods quantity per unit.

Image Source: Google

The bottom line is definitely sweet as sweet potato, although there are variations of sweet, but not as sweet as sweet potato. Because there is so much confusion about these two tubers, the Food and Drug Administration has decided that yams, which are actually sweet potatoes, should be labelled because the two or supermarkets will get confused. 

If you bought the sweet potato in Africa, check the label to see if it says "Sweet Potato" under the "Yam" name. Otherwise, you could end up eating real sweet potatoes, which can be frustrating if that's not what your taste buds expect.

Yams are rich in beta-carotene, which explains the orange flesh and helps protect the skin from sun damage. Beta-carotene produces vitamin A in the body and is good for the eyes and the immune system. They also contain significant amounts of vitamin C and both of these vitamins have powerful antioxidant properties that help reduce the risk of certain types of cancer and help regulate blood pressure. However, they are not very good food for those who are overweight.