Good News About Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes aren't related to regular potatoes or yams. They are a member of the morning glory family and are root tubers. Root tubers are the bulb like portion of the root and are used to store nutrients. They are native to South and Central America and are one of the oldest known foods. They have been grown in the Americas for millions of years. There are thousands of different types of sweet potatoes, but grocery stores typically carry only 1 or 2 varieties. Here is the good news about sweet potatoes.

High in Vitamin A

One sweet potato has double the daily recommended amount of vitamin A. One of the ways your body uses vitamin A is for your vision health. Sweet potatoes contain more vitamins and minerals than white potatoes. The plant based carotenoids in them act as an antioxidant and help protect your eyes from free radical damage and inflammation.

Vitamin C

One cup of baked sweet potato contains over 50% of the daily recommended amount of vitamin C. Your body uses vitamin C constantly and it can not make it on it's own. Having enough vitamin C can help boost your immunity and promote skin and hair health.

Stabalize Blood Sugar

The high fiber content and complex carbohydrates in sweet potatoes can help you feel full longer and help stabalize your blood sugar. They have a slightly lower glycemic index than white potatoes, which means they take you longer to digest. In addition, some of the other nutrients in sweet potatoes have been studied for their ability to stabalize blood sugar.

Heart Health

Sweet potatoes contain potassium which your body can use to balance sodium and maintain healthy blood pressure levels. Their high fiber content can also help your body maintain healthy cholesterol levels and proper digestion. This is more good news about sweet potatoes.

Magnesium

The high levels of magnesium in sweet potatoes are a benefit to your body in many ways. Your body uses magnesium in over 300 chemical reactions. One of the many benefits of magneisum is that it helps relax your muscles and calm your brain. Magnesium deficiency has been linked to poor mood and headaches.

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