Are Sweet Potatoes Healthy for You?

Sweet potatoes are a wholesome food with fiber, vitamin A, and potassium, as well as a sweet, earthy flavor. They are largely a source of carbohydrates and contain relatively little protein, salt, and fat. Sweet potatoes have minimum sugar content, and the sugar they do have is organic.

Sweet potatoes can be cooked as a side dish or added to casseroles and soups. Discover more about sweet potatoes below.

Health Benefits of Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are considered a “superfood” because they are so nutrient-dense. Studies indicate that they might be supportive of:

Lowered risk of cancer: Carotenoids from sweet potatoes may lower your risk of acquiring cancer. Purple sweet potatoes contain a lot of anthocyanins, a natural compound that may lower your chance of developing colorectal cancer.

Diabetes: Sweet potato chemicals may help to regulate blood sugar. Boiling sweet potatoes lowers their glycemic index (GI), which makes them less likely to cause a blood sugar increase than foods with a higher GI.

Heart disease: Studies show that lowering your LDL “bad” cholesterol may minimize your risk of developing heart problems.

Retinal aging: Sweet potatoes are a good source of vitamin A and beta-carotene, which lowers your risk of glaucoma, the most common cause of vision loss.

Obesity: Purple sweet potatoes may aid weight loss by lowering bodily inflammation and halting the development of fat cells.

Popular Ways to Prepare Your Sweet Potatoes

You can boil, bake, roast, grill, whip, purée, and fry sweet potatoes. They can be added to salads, soups, muffins, pies, and bread, as well as served as a side dish. Make them hot by adding chili powder, or make them a little bit sweet by adding cinnamon and nutmeg.

To save time, you can quickly bake your sweet potatoes in the microwave. The sweet potato will still be excellent despite the less crispy exterior. For a delicious flair with less fat and calories, use rosemary and Parmesan instead of heavy cream when mashing or whipping your sweet potatoes.

Sweet potatoes can also be baked at a high temperature with some herbs and spices to create French-style “fries” in the oven. Serve sweet potatoes for lunch, dinner, or breakfast. They are affordable, wholesome, and adaptable ingredients.

Summary

Now that you know sweet potatoes are healthy, don’t wait for Thanksgiving to eat them! Make them a regular part of your menu. Your body will thank you.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/sweet-potato-benefits#TOC_TITLE_HDR_3
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2015/768093/
https://diabetes.org/healthy-living/recipes-nutrition/eating-well/diabetes-superstar-foods