Sweet potatoes are very tasty and contain multiple vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial nutrients. However, they have so much more to offer. This article will cover 5 reasons sweet potatoes should be a stable part of your meals.
Anti-inflammatory Properties
Sweet potatoes contain beta-carotene, which is known to help lower inflammation. Additionally, a study of Taiwanese purple sweet potatoes revealed that the plant’s extracts could be used in anti-inflammatory and anticancer treatments.
Could Protect Your Eyesight
The beta-carotene in sweet potatoes is converted into vitamin A, which is crucial for preserving your vision and safeguarding against night blindness with age.
According to a study published in the journal Clinical Interventions in Aging, beta-carotene and vitamin E play a major role in eye health and protect you from age-related eye disease.
Good For Your Gut
Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of dietary fiber, an indigestible carbohydrate that feeds the friendly bacteria in your gut. Rhyan Geiger, RDN and founder of Phoenix Vegan Dietitian, said some studies have shown that sweet potatoes can promote healthy gut bacteria growth.
Additionally, sweet potatoes contain two types of fiber, i.e. soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber increases healthy gut bacteria, which assists in digestion. On the other hand, insoluble fiber assists in preventing constipation.
Overall, eating fiber is connected to a reduced risk of colorectal cancer. It also reduces your risk of chronic health conditions, such as Type-2 diabetes and heart disease.
Improved Skin Health
Geiger said sweet potatoes have carotenoids, or the pigments responsible for their orange color. He also said your body turns these carotenoids into vitamin A, which is crucial in maintaining healthy skin.
Topical vitamin A, called retinol, is commonly used in skincare products to improve elasticity, treat acne, and reduce hyperpigmentation from sun damage.
Additionally, sweet potatoes can also help reduce acne, which is an inflammatory skin disorder. According to a study published in the Journal of Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, vitamin A and E deficiencies can worsen acne. As such, eating more whole foods rich in these nutrients is essential to reduce the flare-up.
Boosts Your Immune System
Sweet potatoes provide vitamin A, which helps maintain mucus membranes that trap bacteria and other harmful microorganisms. It also assists the body in producing white blood cells, which travel through your body and protect it against microbes such as fungi, bacteria, and parasites.
Conclusion
Sweet potatoes are the ideal nutritious food, which can be prepared in multiple ways and transformed into almost any dish. To get started, you can boil, mash, air fry them, make fries, or add them to chili.
