Nigeria – A Dietician in the Department of Dietetics, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Mr Peter Stephen has warned against peeling of yam before cooking as doing so will help to reduce its sugar content.

The dietician who stated this during a chart with newsmen in Benin the Edo state capital noted that yam and rice have high Glycemic Index (GI) which increases blood sugar level.

GI is a numerical scale used to indicate how fast and how high a particular food can raise blood glucose (blood sugar) level.

Mr. Stephen explained that the skin of yam that is normally peeled off contains proteins and vitamin B Complex as well as soluble fibre that absorb sugar inside the yam.

He further listed foods with low GI to include tomatoes, soya beans and beans explaining that such foods had natural substances that lowers the blood sugar level.

The dietician 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.

 He further advised those that are not diabetic to control their sugar level because prevention is better than cure.