Do you eat sweet potato? If yes, then you have the best choice of food. It is because sweet potato has almost twice the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A, 42% of recommended vitamin C, and four times recommended beta carotene. So, can you give up your junk foods in favor of sweet potato? Well, some would say no, and some would say yes. For those who answer yes well and good because you will get the following nutritional benefits from sweet potato. And for those who say no, then it’s time to change your eating habit.
1. Fiber – It helps to get rid of body toxins and lowers the risk of constipation and colon cancer. The skin can also be eaten which have more fiber than an oatmeal.
2. Protein – It provides anti-oxidant activities that come from the root storage protein.
3. Saturated fat content – It is good for those who are on diet because it is almost fat free and low in sodium content.
4. Vitamin A – It has the highest Vitamin A content among root crops. Eating sweet potato can lead to healthy skin and healthy surface linings of the eyes and the respiratory, urinary and intestinal tracts. The vitamin A content also fights infections and protects the walls of arteries and veins against hardening.
5. Vitamin C – It helps reduce the severity of asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
6. Vitamin B6 – It helps transform homocysteine into harmless molecules.
7. Anti-oxidants – Purple fleshed potatoes have higher concentration of anti-oxidants called anthocyanins and is 3.2 times higher than that of a blueberry variety. Antioxidants are the protector of the body from lung and oral cavity cancers.
8. Lowest in glycemic index – Sweet potato digest slowly which cause a gradual rise in blood sugar. If you want to lose weight, eat sweet potatoes. It has the elements that keep you full which help you control food intake. For diabetic person, sweet potatoes stabilize blood glucose levels and enhance the response to insulin.
9. Anti-aging properties – It help prolong the aging of the person.
10. Potassium – Regulates the blood pressure levels and helps prevent heart attack, stroke, muscle cramps and injury or even fight against stress.
11. Copper – It contents copper which is important for enzyme reactions, energy production and growth.
12. Manganese – It keeps the bones healthy and strong.
13. Calcium – It contains calcium which is good for bone density, muscle contraction, blood vessel contraction and expansion, secretion of hormones and enzymes and sending messages through the nervous system.
14. Iron – It has 1.4 mg of iron which is very good as compared to green leafy vegetables
1. Fiber – It helps to get rid of body toxins and lowers the risk of constipation and colon cancer. The skin can also be eaten which have more fiber than an oatmeal.
2. Protein – It provides anti-oxidant activities that come from the root storage protein.
3. Saturated fat content – It is good for those who are on diet because it is almost fat free and low in sodium content.
4. Vitamin A – It has the highest Vitamin A content among root crops. Eating sweet potato can lead to healthy skin and healthy surface linings of the eyes and the respiratory, urinary and intestinal tracts. The vitamin A content also fights infections and protects the walls of arteries and veins against hardening.
5. Vitamin C – It helps reduce the severity of asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
6. Vitamin B6 – It helps transform homocysteine into harmless molecules.
7. Anti-oxidants – Purple fleshed potatoes have higher concentration of anti-oxidants called anthocyanins and is 3.2 times higher than that of a blueberry variety. Antioxidants are the protector of the body from lung and oral cavity cancers.
8. Lowest in glycemic index – Sweet potato digest slowly which cause a gradual rise in blood sugar. If you want to lose weight, eat sweet potatoes. It has the elements that keep you full which help you control food intake. For diabetic person, sweet potatoes stabilize blood glucose levels and enhance the response to insulin.
9. Anti-aging properties – It help prolong the aging of the person.
10. Potassium – Regulates the blood pressure levels and helps prevent heart attack, stroke, muscle cramps and injury or even fight against stress.
11. Copper – It contents copper which is important for enzyme reactions, energy production and growth.
12. Manganese – It keeps the bones healthy and strong.
13. Calcium – It contains calcium which is good for bone density, muscle contraction, blood vessel contraction and expansion, secretion of hormones and enzymes and sending messages through the nervous system.
14. Iron – It has 1.4 mg of iron which is very good as compared to green leafy vegetables
In order to keep those nutrients together, roast, bake or steam rather than boil the sweet potato. Because submerging them into the water may take out some of the water soluble nutrients. So to keep yourself fit and healthy, eat sweet potato now!
source : health and home Nov. 2010 issue
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