5 Good Reasons For You To Eat More Sweet Potatoes

3775
Eat More Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) are large, starchy , sweet-tasting  root vegetables, that are available all year-round.  They are nutritious, high in fiber, very filling, and delicious. They can be eaten boiled, baked, steamed, or fried.

Sweet potatoes are some of the oldest foods known to humanity. They are native to Central and South America. Some fossil evidence  show that sweet potatoes were growing in the Americas 35 million years ago.

They are usually orange but they can be also found in other colors, such as  pink, violet, yellow, and purple.

People often ask which type of potatoes are better, the white ones or the sweet potato. It turns out that both types have their own benefits, but sweet potatoes come out a bit ahead. They have slightly fewer calories and carbs than white potatoes, and pack more vitamins and nutrients.

So here are 5 good reasons for you to eat more sweet potatoes:

Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamin C and vitamin B6, which is important for brain and nervous system health. They’re also a good source of potassium and magnesium, which help improve heart health by helping to regulate blood pressure.

They’re high in vitamin A – a vitamin with very important for our health superpowers: It helps create the immune cells that fight off pathogens. One medium sweet potato has over 400% of your daily vitamin A needs.

Since they are incredibly rich in beta-carotene, the antioxidant responsible for the vegetable’s bright orange color, sweet potatoes support healthy vision. Some studies have found that the anthocyanins the sweet potatoes provide, can protect eye cells from damage, which may be significant to overall eye health.

Sweet potatoes also contain compounds, including choline and manganese, that help your brain function at its best. Choline is an essential nutrient for brain growth and development while Manganese is also important for brain health since it binds to neurotransmitters and helps move electrical impulses through your body faster. You can find 43% of your daily value of manganese in one cup of baked sweet potato.

Sweet potatoes are categorized as low to high on the glycemic index scale. Several studies have indicated that they can minimize the occurrence of insulin resistance and low blood sugar levels, as well as high blood sugar in people who are suffering from diabetes.

February is National Sweet Potato Month.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here