The 8 Sweetest Benefits of Sweet Potato

Rebecca Lewis August 20, 2015

No matter how you prepare it – boiled, fried, grilled or baked – sweet potato really tastes great. Not only that, it is readily available and inexpensive. Many scientific studies have shown that sweet potato has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and disease-fighting properties that make it a super food.

So instead of your usual fries or fritters, you probably want to try sweet potato as an alternative. Apart from its delicious taste, sweet potatoes also boast of amazing health benefits!

Nutrient-dense

Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamin B6 which helps reduce the amount of homocysteine in our bodies. This harmful chemical is linked to degenerative diseases, such as heart attack. Sweet potatoes also contain significant amount of vitamin C which strengthens our immune system, helping us ward off cold and flu viruses, as well as vitamin D which plays a role in promoting positive feelings, healthy bones, beautiful skin, and higher energy levels. It has magnesium too, which is considered a ‘relaxation’ mineral.

Immunity Booster

Sweet potato is a great addition to a healthy diet as it contains plenty of antioxidants that promote a strong immune system. The rich orange colour of sweet potato indicates that they are high in carotenoids like beta carotene and other carotenoids. All these help ward off cancer and protect against the effects of aging.

Anti-Diabetes

Among the sweet stuff out there, sweet potato is one of the few foods that are good for people who have diabetes and those who are at risk of the disease. The natural sugars from sweet potato are slowly released into the bloodstream, so you got a balanced and regular source of energy, and helps to stabilise and lower insulin resistance.

Skin Care

Eating sweet potato regularly is one way to protect your skin from the damaging ultra violet rays brought by excessive sun exposure. The antioxidants from this sweet crop also helps repair cell damage that cause saggy and unhealthy skin. The beta carotene present in sweet potato is also an excellent nutrient for eye health and has been linked to prevention of vision loss and macular degeneration.

Pro-Heart

Sweet potatoes are enriched with potassium and vitamin B6, making it a food for the heart. These nutrients play a role in maintaining the electrolyte balance in our body, regulate our blood sugar levels, and protect us against heart attack and stroke.

Anti-Inflammatory

Sweet potatoes are rich in beta kryptoxanthin which helps prevent inflammations of rheumatoid arthritis. The anti-inflammatory compounds present in this delicious crop are great at fighting various health problems, particularly the chronic ones.

Cancer Prevention

Sweet potatoes are packed with beta carotene. Studies suggest that regular consumption of sweet potatoes may lower the risk of kidney cancer, as well as breast cancer in pre-menopausal women.

Better Digestion

Sweet potatoes offer relief from a variety of stomach problems like indigestion, constipation and acidity. Due to its high fibre content, it helps stomach and intestine aid in proper digestion. Sweet potatoes contain almost twice as much fibre as other types of potatoes. The high fibre content gives them a "slow burning" quality, which means their caloric energy is used more slowly and efficiently (making sweet potatoes great for weight loss too).