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Sweet potatoes are the ultimate vegetable. They are full of health benefits, super versatile, easy to cook and generally available all year round.
Before we dive into all the amazing reasons we love sweet potatoes, the skill-testing question is what is the difference between a yam and a sweet potato? Learn the difference and make sure to fill your cart full of them!
Here are 12 reasons why we love sweet potatoes:
They help you chill out
They are a good source of magnesium, which plays a large role in calming the brain. Magnesium deficiency has been linked to depression, mood disturbances, and headaches. Other good sources of magnesium include avocados, legumes, tofu, nuts, seeds, and leafy greens.
They make you look good
Sweet potatoes give you lots of vitamin C when you eat them. Vitamin C helps aid the production of collagen, which in return helps maintain your skin’s elasticity.
Boosts your immunity
They are rich in antioxidants and vitamins. One cup of baked sweet potatoes contains 52% of your daily value of vitamin C and vitamin A, which is important for wound healthy and tissue repair. Vitamin A helps your body make immune cells that fight off infections.
They Give you energy
Because sweet potatoes have natural sugar in it, the sugar get’s slowly released into your bloodstream, which is also great for people with diabetes. No sugar high means no sugar crash.
Make you happy
These orange beauties are full of Vitamin D. So, when there is no sunshine in these rainy and snowy months, and they provide you with the daily dose of vitamin D to keep you at your happiest.
Keeps you young
Orange vegetables naturally contain beta-carotene, which protects against aging.
Good for your digestion
Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of fiber, especially when you eat the skins. One medium potato has six grams of dietary fiber, and are a complex carb, so that means that sweet potatoes feed your body good bacteria.
Help you see in the dark
Sweet potatoes contain several nutrients that have been linked to improved eye health and vision. Some of the most powerful are the carotenoids. They include alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. All stuff that is good for your vision.
Keep you from swelling
This is due to their high levels of beta-carotene, vitamin C, and magnesium. Their abundance of antioxidants doesn’t hurt here, either. One of the particular antioxidants that’s found in purple sweet potato flesh is cyanidin. Cyanidin has been linked to reducing inflammation, especially in the digestive tract.
Help fight cancer
A study published in Nutrition and Cancer in 2016 looked at the antioxidant and anti-cancer effects of an extract from sweet potato peels. Make sure to leave the skins on when you roast the sweet potatoes.
Heart-healthy
The high fiber content of sweet potatoes can lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, helping to prevent cardiovascular disease. They are also high in potassium, which works in balance with sodium in your body to maintain healthy blood pressure. They’re also high in copper, an essential metal for making red blood cells and keeping your heart happy.
Easy to store
Keep them in a dry, cool (but not refrigerated) place and they will last a few weeks after purchase. Perfect to stock up and eat every day!
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[…] potatoes don’t get enough credit. They are sweet, can be cooked in many different ways and are very good for you. We have put together a list of easy sweet potato recipes that you can include with your dinner […]