Yellow and orange-fleshed sweet potatoes are
The concentration and bioavailability of phytochemicals in sweet potatoes are
This article discusses the health benefits of sweet potatoes, their nutritional value, potential downsides, and tips to incorporate them into your diet.
There are numerous health benefits of sweet potatoes.
They are highly nutritious
Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds.
One cup or 200 grams (g) of baked sweet potato with the skin
Energy (calories) | 180 kcal |
Carbohydrates | 41.4 g |
Protein | 4.02 g |
Fat | 0.3 g |
Fiber | 6.6 g |
Vitamin C | 39.2 milligrams (mg) |
Manganese | 0.994 mg |
Vitamin B6 | 0.572 mg |
Potassium | 950 mg |
Pantothenic acid | 1.768 mg |
Copper | 0.322 mg |
Niacin | 2.98 mg |
Also, the anthocyanins in purple sweet potatoes may
Good for gut health
The dietary fiber in sweet potatoes
The high concentration of anthocyanins in purple sweet potatoes provides anti-inflammatory properties and prebiotic activity, which may promote good intestinal health.
Discover more foods that are good for gut health.
Promoting healthy vision
Orange-fleshed sweet potatoes are
These phytochemicals also quench free radicals, protecting the eye from oxidative stress and inflammation.
Severe vitamin A deficiency
Discover more foods that can promote healthy vision.
Supporting immunity
Vitamin A plays a
The beneficial plant compounds and nutrients in sweet potatoes may reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the body, which helps support immunity.
Discover more foods that can boost your immune system.
Sweet potatoes are high in
Also, dietary oxalates
Contact your doctor if you suspect you have a sensitivity to oxalates or if you experience any new symptoms after eating products high in oxalates.
Sweet potatoes are very versatile. You can eat them on their own or include them in various dishes.
One of the healthiest ways to prepare and eat sweet potatoes is to cook and cool them with the peel on. Cooking and cooling sweet potatoes
The peel contains many nutrients as well. Eating some fat with sweet potatoes will also help increase the absorption of the fat-soluble nutrients it contains.
Also, you can eat sweet potatoes steamed, baked, boiled, sauteed, or in many other ways.
Ways to incorporate sweet potatoes into your diet include:
- cooked, cubed, and added to salads or soups
- as an ingredient for brownies
- drizzled with olive oil and seasonings
- as a sweet treat sprinkled with cinnamon topped with cottage cheese
- as baked sweet potato fries
- using purple sweet potatoes for potato salad
- sweet potato Shepherd’s pie
Sweet potatoes are nutritious and can be included regularly in an overall balanced diet. Still, you want to be sure you’re getting a wide variety of foods to meet daily nutritional needs.
Check with your doctor or a registered dietitian for more personalized advice about diet and health.
Also, contact a doctor before making any significant changes to your diet or before eating any food in excess amounts.
Sweet potatoes can be a part of a successful weight management plan, if that’s your goal. Their high fiber and nutrient content can help keep your blood sugar levels stable, which may help with satiety and weight management.
They are also low glycemic and contain a natural sweetness, which may help regulate cravings. Furthermore, their high antioxidant content
How they are prepared also influences how they are metabolized in the body, which can influence weight loss.
Does sweet potato reduce belly fat?
There is no evidence that sweet potatoes specifically reduce belly fat. However, their high fiber and resistant starch content may help with weight management.
Sweet potatoes can be considered a superfood because they are a rich source of vitamins, minerals, prebiotic fiber, and beneficial plant compounds.
They are a
They can make for a nutritious addition to an overall well-balanced diet.
On average, sweet potatoes contain approximately
Steamed and boiled sweet potatoes are lower in sugar than baked or fried. Their high fiber content also helps slow the release of sugar into the bloodstream. Sweet potatoes are complex carbohydrates, so it takes longer to break down into simple sugar molecules.
While the health benefits of sweet potatoes are well documented, they may not be the best choice for everyone. Everybody responds differently to different foods.
Consult your doctor or a registered dietitian before making any significant dietary changes.
Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, and beneficial plant compounds. They are especially rich in beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A that serves an important role in many physiological functions.
Some research suggests that including sweet potatoes in your diet may offer several health benefits, such as supporting healthy vision, immunity, and gut health.
However, sweet potatoes are relatively high in oxalates, which may interfere with mineral absorption. People at risk for developing kidney stones may be sensitive to high oxalate foods.
As part of an overall well-balanced diet, sweet potato consumption can also contribute to weight loss.