If you’ve never eaten sweet potato, you have no idea what you’re missing. The orange vegetable offers so much more than the regular variety and while normal potatoes can sometimes be viewed as a bad addition to your diet if you eat too much of them, the sweeter version can actually aid weight loss by fighting off hunger, according to research.

While they still contain carbs – around 33 grams per cup according to Pop Sugar - they also have a compound that increases levels of adiponectin (the blood-sugar regulating hormone) in the body. By helping to keep your blood sugar level stable, sweet potatoes can actually reduce the chances of you having a sugar craving after your meal when the levels dip. So then you won’t be as tempted to reach for that chocolate bar or tub of ice cream!

Sweet potatoes also have a relatively low Glycemic Index (GI) rating and some studies have found that these types of foods stay in your digestive tract longer and therefore help to control your appetite.

To maintain sweet potatoes' low glycemic properties, boil or steam them instead of roasting them, as this can destroy some of these properties. After preparing them, try adding chopped cubes into a vegetable medley or mash once soft and use as an accompaniment to a meat dish.

Another way sweet potatoes help you control your hunger is with their high fibre content. Fibre-rich ingredients make you feel fuller for longer, with one medium sweet potato containing four grams of the nutrient.

As well as the potential weight-loss benefits, sweet potatoes can help improve skin, bone and eye health thanks to their levels of Vitamin A.

So if you want to give them a go, whether you favour chips, mash or boiled spuds, try substituting them for your regular potatoes in your meals, Or you can get a bit more creative and use them in a soup with carrot and ginger. For a quick meal, why not make sweet potato and spinach quesadillas? Blitz the potatoes in the microwave to save time, mix with the other ingredients, put between the tortillas and grill for three minutes either side. Delicious.

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