Sweet potato is one of the potato varieties packed with several nutrients; this potato variety can be referred to as a super vegetable. They are delicious and just as nutritious; they are also versatile and can therefore be used in many recipes. Sweet potatoes are not only a home for many important nutrients but also have many medicinal benefits that make them a top choice in many households.
There are different sweet potato varieties out there like purple, red, blue, yellow, and many more. They are also relatively easy to prepare. Below are a few of the nutritional benefits of sweet potato and reasons why you should add them to your next shopping list.
Nutritional Benefits
Sweet potatoes are packed with many vitamins like Vitamin A, C, and B5. They also contain several minerals like iron, potassium, calcium, mineral, and more. Phytonutrients and fiber could also be found in the sweet potato and can help enhance your mind and body. This potato variety also contains carotenoids, niacin, riboflavin, and many others because of their orange color. The phytonutrients contained within are anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic; below are the nutritional benefits of the sweet potato.
Enhanced Vision
The vitamin A contained in sweet potato helps to main eyesight and enhance vision; sweet potatoes have enough vitamin A to maintain the retina structure and help in the creation of necessary pigments that help with light absorption. Sweet potatoes also contain Vitamin C that can help decrease the risk of cataracts in the eye.
- Builds Immunity
The vitamin A contained in sweet potatoes could also help enhance other bodily functions like cellular growth, differentiation, and communication. It also plays quite a crucial role in improving the immune system of the body.
- Helps Decrease Blood Pressure
The minerals found in sweet potatoes like magnesium and potassium can help support the blood pressure. Potassium is popularly known to reduce blood pressure and also protect a person against stroke. Magnesium can also help prevent or reduce the risk of hypertension, especially in pregnant women.
- Reduces Cholesterol
Sweet potatoes, which stand out amongst other potato varieties, can also help reduce cholesterol in the body; this is because this super vegetable contains soluble and fermentable fiber that enhances the satiety effect and, therefore, reduces a person’s food intake. Sweet potatoes are also known to contain zero fat and thus, can help with weight loss in a person due to the high level of fiber ingested by a person when they consume sweet potatoes.