SWEET POTATO

Submitted by ub on

Sweet potatoes are nutritious, packing a good amount of vitamin A, vitamin C, and manganese into each delicious serving.

I eat a sweet potato with or without brown sugar-cinnamon butter. The tender, melt-in-your-mouth sweet potatoes found at restaurants do not compete with the allure of this irresistibly fluffy interior.

They also have anticancer properties and may promote immune function and other health benefits. Sweet potatoes are sweet, starchy root vegetables that are grown worldwide 

They come in a variety of sizes and colors — including orange, white, and purple — and are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber.

Not to mention, they provide several health benefits and are easy to add to your diet.

Here are 6 surprising health benefits of sweet potatoes.

Highly nutritious

Sweet potatoes are a great source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

One cup, or 200 grams (g), of baked sweet potato with skin provides 

  • Calories: 180
  • Carbs: 41 g
  • Protein: 4 g
  • Fat: 0.3 g
  • Fiber: 6.6 g
  • Vitamin A: 213% of the Daily Value (DV)
  • Vitamin C: 44% of the DV
  • Manganese: 43% of the DV
  • Copper: 36% of the DV
  • Pantothenic acid: 35% of the DV
  • Vitamin B6: 34% of the DV
  • Potassium: 20% of the DV
  • Niacin: 19% of the DV

In addition, sweet potatoes — especially the orange and purple varieties — are rich in antioxidants that protect your body from free radicals

Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage DNA and trigger inflammation.

Free radical damage has been linked to chronic illnesses like cancer, heart disease, and aging. Therefore, eating antioxidant-rich foods is good for your health