Why We Should Be Eating Sweet Potatoes.

Who would have thought that sweet potatoes were a healthy food? I think most of us would consider sweet potatoes, because of their sweet taste, to be inherently bad for you and, maybe they are, if your primary health concern is weight loss. However, sweet potatoes are a very nutritious food and are conducive to a healthy diet. One cup of sweet potatoes contains 114 calories but sweet potatoes, unlike other starchy foods, have a very low glycemic index which means that they release sugar very slowly into the blood stream. Thus, eating sweet potatoes actually stabilizes the levels of blood sugar and avoids the dangerous spikes in blood sugar associated with the consumption of most starchy foods. The regulatory effects of consuming sweet potatoes occurs even in people with type 2 diabetes. In fact, a dietary supplement made from sweet potatoes, called Caiapo, is actually marketed to control blood sugar in Japan. One cup of sweet potatoes provides 377% of our daily requirement for vitamin A; 15% of our requirement for vitamin B6 and 8% of our need for magnesium. One medium sized sweet potato also provides 16% of our daily requirement for fiber. Finally, the ORAC value for sweet potatoes is 2115 which is similar to that of strawberries and spinach. Here are some of the important health benefits of the common sweet potato. Cardiovascular health Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamin B6 which breaks down homocysteine a substance that contributes to hardening of the arteries. The potassium in sweet potatoes also lowers blood pressure and helps regulate your heart beat. As mentioned above, sweet potatoes have a low glycemic index so you will not get dangerous spikes in your blood sugar after eating them, even if you suffer from type 2 diabetes. The manganese in sweet potatoes also helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Stress According to the Los Angeles Department of Public Health the magnesium in sweet potatoes promotes relaxation, calmness and a good mood as well as contributing to bone, artery, muscle and nerve health. Immunity and anti-inflammatory properties The color-pigmented vitamins in sweet potatoes support a healthy immune system and have significant ant-inflammatory benefits which are beneficial to overall health and help the body fight a variety inflammatory diseases including stomach ulcers, skin infections and even the common cold. Skin and hair The vitamin A in sweet potatoes protects against sun damage to the skin and the vitamins C and E in the potatoes encourage healthy vibrant skin and are generally known for their beauty benefits. Digestion Sweet potatoes are a good source of fiber which supports a healthy digestive track and helps avoid constipation and diarrhea. Cancer prevention Orange sweet potatoes have anti-carcinogenic properties and some NIH studies suggest that the beta-carotenes in sweet potatoes may reduce the risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women and ovarian cancer in postmenopausal women. In this respect, purple sweet potatoes may have better cancer-fighting abilities than orange sweet potatoes, but both are effective in preventing cancer cell growth. Summary Unless weight control is a paramount issue, we all should be eating one medium sized orange or purple sweet potato at least two or three times a week. This inexpensive tasty food is extremely nutritious and may even aid in the prevention of heart disease and cancer. The sweet potato is particularly helpful in controlling blood sugar levels in those suffering from type 2 diabetes and may even help prevent the onset of diabetes in overweight individuals who are prone to develop the disorder.