Do Yams Have Carbohydrates?
The holidays often include either a yam or sweet potato side dish, but either is a delicious and nutritious addition to any meal any time of year. Yams are a type of dry, starchy root vegetable, or "tuber," similar to the potato.
Tip
Like many root vegetables, yams have a high carbohydrate count — between 22 and 42 grams per serving, depending on the type of yam. In general, yams have more carbohydrates per serving than either red, white, russet or sweet potatoes.
Standard Yam Nutrition Information
According to the USDA Nutrient Database, one serving of a regular yam (about one cup of cubed yam) contains:
- 177 calories
- 0.5 grams fat
- 2.3 grams protein
- 42 grams carbohydrates
- 6.2 grams dietary fiber
Mountain Yam Nutrition
A type of Hawaiian yam known as mountain yam is lower in calories, carbohydrates and fiber than standard yams. According to the USDA, a one-cup serving of mountain yam yields:
- 91 calories
- 0.5 grams fat
- 2 grams protein
- 22 grams carbohydrate
- 3.4 grams fiber
- 0.5 grams sugar
Mountain yams have about half the magnesium and phosphorous content of regular yams and less than half the potassium content.
Carbs Compared
Other root vegetables look low in carbohydrate content compared to yams. One cup of diced Russet potatoes contains just 27 grams carbohydrate, and one cup of white potatoes contains 23.5 grams, about the same amount of carbohydrates as can be found in a serving of red potatoes.