We’re big believers in being proactive and doing everything we can to help our health. That includes talking to our doctors about what’s best for us and making healthy lifestyle choices in our exercise and diet. But sometimes, the best choices might not be readily evident. For instance, starchy vegetables don’t seem like a healthy option.

While 75 percent of your cholesterol comes from your liver, and only 25 percent comes from diet, that doesn’t mean your diet can’t help lower your cholesterol. While they are high in carbs, sweet potatoes are rich in vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants. They are high in fiber and can help lower the “bad” LDL cholesterol.

We’re entering the fall. It doesn’t feel like it when the weather is so hot outside! But this tuber is coming into season. So, we thought we would take a look at this Thanksgiving staple that some call a superfood.

An average-sized sweet potato has 112 calories, 26 grams of carbs and four grams of fiber. That can make them hard to work into your diet if you are staying low carb. They also have 400 percent of your daily vitamin A.

The peel is the best source of water-soluble fiber. Water-soluble fiber binds to bile acid and helps your body rid itself of cholesterol. So you want to use recipes that use the whole potato — or enjoy them baked. Even without the peel, they still have plenty of fiber, so it’s not a dealbreaker if you don’t like the flavor, but you’re are missing out. Whether or not you ditch the peel, skip marshmallows or brown sugar, try savory dishes instead. Traditional Thanksgiving-type sweet potato dishes aren’t going to be healthy.

One of our favorite ways to enjoy sweet potatoes is to bake them in the oven, scoop out the inside, mash the flesh with skim milk and add whatever spice mix you would use for a roast chicken. Then put the mashed potatoes back into the potato skin and enjoy! It’s simple and delicious! They can be baked into strips with a little bit of oil and enjoyed as sweet potato fries. They are also delicious roasted in the oven with onions and broccoli or asparagus as a side to go with the main course. However you enjoy them, they are definitely a cool-weather vegetable, so keep them in mind as the leaves start to change color!