Today Americans celebrate Thanksgiving, a holiday full of family, food, and, often, football. Central to the day, we see the Thanksgiving feast- mashed potatoes, cranberries, stuffing, and, of course, turkey. History teaches us that the Pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians joined for a harvest meal in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in November 1621.
While we don’t know for sure if the first Thanksgiving included turkey, historians believe that the Wampanoag likely contributed deer meat for the meal. The main course probably included seafood, like mussels, lobster, and oysters as they were plentiful in the area. As the first Thanksgiving occurred as a way of the Pilgrims giving thanks for their first fall harvest in their new home, their fare for the three-day celebration likely included many of the vegetables grown on the land, like onions, beans, cabbage, and carrots. Historians also believe that the Pilgrims used corn to make a porridge sweetened with molasses. The first Thanksgiving likely included many fruits, including blueberries, raspberries, and cranberries.
You may have noticed potatoes missing from the menu. Potatoes gained popularity among the Spanish, who found them in South America and brought them back to Europe. By the time the Pilgrims left England, potatoes hadn’t become popular enough to go to the colonies. But, luckily for us, sweet potatoes have become a staple of many modern Thanksgiving tables, and not only are they tasty, but they also have some anti-cancer properties.
Pre-clinical research has shown that sweet potato protein extracted from fresh sweet potato roots inhibits the growth of colorectal and lung cancer cells. Similarly, trypsin inhibitor obtained from sweet potato storage roots induces apoptosis, a biological process of cell death, in leukemia cells.
Sweet potatoes contain phytochemicals, biologically active compounds that contribute to the flavor and color of foods. Phytochemicals, including flavonoids, anthocyanins, and carotenoids all have anti-cancer properties. In addition, sweet potatoes have an abundance of vitamin A, which can provide some protection from lung cancer. Finally, sweet potatoes have a high content of carotenoids, antioxidants that help prevent DNA damage which can lead to cancer.
While the majority of the research linking sweet potatoes to cancer prevention consists of pre-clinical and laboratory studies, there is significant evidence to support the health benefits of sweet potatoes. In addition to their cancer prevention attributes, sweet potatoes can also benefit heart health, eyesight, and boost your immunity. So, whether they are mashed, roasted, or pureed, when you pass the sweet potatoes at your Thanksgiving table, know that you're not just serving a delicious dish, but also a nutritious one.
Sources: World J Gastroenterol, J Agricul Food Chem, Nutrients, Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, Antioxidants