When you are at the dinner table this Thanksgiving, don’t forget to add a big helping of sweet potatoes to your plate. Not only are they are considered to be an aphrodisiac as well as an aid to reproductive health, they are nutritious and, well, sweet!

Most people think of sweet potatoes as a traditional thanksgiving dish, but its history reaches back much farther than that. Sweet potatoes are native to Central America and are one of the oldest vegetables known to man. Scientists believe they have been consumed since prehistoric times because sweet potato relics dating back 10,000 years have been found in Peruvian caves.

Columbus himself was introduced to the sweet potato by West Indians on Hispaniola during his expedition to Haiti in 1492, and he quickly took them back to Spain. The Spanish potato, as it became known, was also soon elevated to the status of aphrodisiac during the 16th and 17th centuries, establishing its place at dinner tables of the upper class. In fact, they were part of Catherine of Aragon's dowry in her doomed marriage to England's Henry VIII.  The King imported sweet potatoes from Spain and had them made into a variety of scrumptious dishes; it was said he ate two dozen at a sitting. Perhaps that is why he was such a lusty king.  

It is also interesting to note that when Shakespeare referred to "potatoes" in The Merry Wives of Windsor, he was talking about the sweet potato.

Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of vitamin A (in the form of beta carotene, which gives the flesh its orange color), as well as a very good source of vitamin C and manganese. Both beta carotene and vitamin C are very powerful antioxidants that work in the body to eliminate free radicals. In addition, sweet potatoes are a good source of vitamin E, copper, dietary fiber, vitamin B6, and iron. Vitamin E is said to prevent senility and possess aphrodisiac qualities.

Vitamin A plays an important role in the reproductive process. It is involved in the development of sperm (spermatogenesis) and also in the development of the fetus during pregnancy. However, excessive doses of vitamin A and synthetic retinols may lead to fetal malformation and congenital abnormalities, so be careful.

Sweet potatoes are also high in potassium, which helps reduce stress, a great way to curb any performance anxiety you might get later that night. "The thing to avoid is dumping on a lot of salt, because the sodium can inhibit the potato's potassium," says Barry Swanson, Ph.D., a professor of food science at Washington State University. Try a baked sweet potato with a dollop of sour cream, another source of libido-friendly protein.

The sweet potato has grown in popularity to rank fifth on the world's list of most important food staples after rice, wheat, corn, and cassava, as it constitutes a significant source of carbohydrate and beta carotene. More than 90 percent of the world's sweet potatoes are grown in Asia, and most are not orange-fleshed; there are hundreds of sweet potato varieties worldwide.  The sweet potato has yellow or orange flesh, and its thin skin may either be white, yellow, orange, red or purple. Sometimes this root vegetable will be shaped like a potato, being short and blocky with rounded ends, while at other times it can be longer with tapered ends.

Two basic varieties grow in the United States. The paler-skinned sweet potato that grows up north has a thin, light yellow skin with pale yellow flesh which is not sweet and has a dry, crumbly texture similar to a white baking potato. The darker-skinned variety (which is most often called "yam" in error) has a thicker, dark orange to reddish skin with bright orange, sweet flesh and a moist texture that grows in the southern United States.

Although deep south sweet potatoes and yams look alike and many people use these terms interchangeably both in conversation and in cooking, they are really two different vegetables. Botanically, the two vegetables share nothing except for some flowery associations. The yam is a member of the lily family, while the sweet potato is a member of the morning glory family.

The two plants also come from different parts of the world; yams are usually not grown outside of the tropics. You will rarely see a true yam in this country, except in specialty markets. They are called njam where they are grown in Africa and the Caribbean; a yam is pale and starchy, with rough and scaly skin. Yams are less nutritious than sweet potatoes, are almost pure starch, and get slimy when they're cooked. True yams do offer one ingredient lacking from sweet potatoes; they have a compound from which the sex hormone estrogen was first manufactured.

African slaves in the American South called the sweet potato nyamis (yam) because of its similarity to a vegetable of that name that they knew from their homeland. This African word forever brought the two vegetables together in our minds.

The sweet potatoes preferred outside the United States and Canada are white-fleshed and not usually soft or sweet; but they are more versatile than the orange types, fitting into meals like the common potato. Asian sweet potatoes are those with various Asian names the market uses for the rose-skinned, ivory-fleshed variations developed in the Far East. They fall between the drier boniato types and the moist-fleshed whites.

The boniato is often considered a cross between a baking potato and a sweet potato in flavor and color. It is distinguished from other sweet potatoes by its pink to burgundy-colored skin and its white or cream-colored flesh. It is also much fluffier, drier, and not as sweet as the yellow or orange-fleshed sweet potato. The boniato or tropical sweet potato, (Ipomoea batatas), also known as batatas or camote, is also a member of the morning glory family. It is very popular in South Florida, especially among the Latin population.

When selecting sweet potatoes, choose sweet potatoes that are firm and do not have any cracks, bruises or soft spots. Avoid those that are displayed in the refrigerated section of the produce department since cold temperature negatively alters their taste. Sweet potatoes can be found in your local markets year round; however, they are in season in November and December.

At home, sweet potatoes will keep fresh for up to 10 days when stored in a cool, dark and well-ventilated place. Another interesting fact is that they get sweeter as they get older. It is suggested you don’t keep your sweet potatoes in a plastic bag but rather store them in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated cupboard, not above 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and away from sources of excess heat (like the stove). Do not refrigerate.

The American Thanksgiving is the holiday that showcases the sweet potato's versatility. It is transformed into pies, puddings, and muffins, as well as candied vegetables, biscuits, and even ice cream. Not only can sweet potatoes be substituted in most recipes for white potatoes with unexpected and lively results, but they make delicious and unusual combinations when sauteed with garlic and tomatoes, layered in gratins with various types of cheese, or fried in tempura batter and served with dipping sauces.       

When making recipe choices, keep in mind that plain sweet potatoes are an excellent food choice, but pile on sugar, marshmallow topping and syrup and your healthy sweet potatoes suddenly become as sugary as a candy bar. Sweet potatoes are never eaten raw. Baking them is best because most of the nutrients are found just under the skin.  Despite their sweet taste, sweet potatoes have the same number of calories as white potatoes, about 100 per 3.5-ounce serving. They can be quickly cooked in their skins in a microwave (pierce them first).

Homage to the sweet potato and yam is an institution in parts of Louisiana, where an annual October festival, the Yambilee, ends in a colorful procession called the Grand Louisiana Parade. However, you don’t need to attend the Yambilee to appreciate the sweet potato. Try experimenting with different recipes to enjoy boosting your sexual energy and reproductive health this holiday season and all year long.