Health Benefits of Eating Sweet Potatoes
What are sweet potatoes good for? A study has been done by the
Center for Science in the Public Interest on the nutritional value
contained in various vegetables. Sweet potato was found to be the
highest source of dietary fiber, protein, complex carbohydrates,
vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and iron.
- Sweet potato contains an abundance of complex carbohydrates, which
control the rise of blood sugar level. Because of that, it is
considered as a healthy food with therapeutic effects for the
diabetics.
- Sweet potato is a good source of iron; containing 0.6 mg in every
100 g. Iron plays an important role to carry oxygen from the lungs
to the muscles and various organs in the body and is a natural
remedy to treat people who has anemia.
- The tuber is rich in powerful flavonoids such as beta-carotene and
vitamin A and is among the highest in root vegetable category.
Vitamin A is a strong antioxidant needed to maintain a healthy
vision. It is also a significant nutrient that takes care of your
mucus membranes and skin.
- Sweet potato is full of essential B-complex vitamins, especially thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid and pyridoxine. These
wonderful vitamins provide you with energy, reduce the risk of heart
disease and may also help relieve stress and heal depression.
- Packed with potent vitamin C, the tuber is useful in building your
immune system. Research indicated that foods with vitamin C are
effective in protecting you against free radicals that damage the
body cells.
- Sweet potato is loaded with dietary fiber, low in calories and has
no fats and cholesterol. It is a great diet for weight loss.
- Other minerals found in the tuber include magnesium, calcium,
potassium and manganese which also have excellent health properties.
Facts about Sweet Potatoes
 Sweet potatoes (scientific name Ipomoea batatas) are tubers, which
are related to potatoes. Originated from South America, the
nutritious tubers usually confuse many people since quite a number
of sweet potatoes are mislabeled as yams in the United States. Yams
are indeed larger, less sweet and starchier.
If you are making sweet potato pie, you should select those with
reddish, dark brown or even purple skin. The interior portion of
those sweet potatoes is usually in orange color and tastes very
sweet.
Some people use the darker sweet potatoes to prepare casserole,
mashed sweet potatoes and sweet potato fries. Japanese tempura
normally batters and fries sweet potatoes, where they are served
with delicious tempura sauce.
Sweet Potato Nutrition Facts and Calories
|
Nutritional Value
of 1 cup (133 g) Raw Sweet Potato (Cubed) |
| Calories |
114 kcal |
| Total Fat |
0 g |
| Cholesterol |
0 mg
|
| Sodium |
73 mg |
| Total
Carbohydrates |
27 g |
| Dietary Fiber |
4 g |
| Sugars |
6 g |
| Protein |
2
g |
Sweet Potato Recipe
Oven Baked Sweet Potatoes Recipe
Serve: 6
Ingredients:
- 6 sweet potatoes, unpeeled
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Preparation:
- Preheat the oven to 400° F.
- Use a fork and pierce the sweet potato several times each. Put them
on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Bake for 45 minutes or
until tender. Slit the top of the sweet potatoes. Top each sweet
potato with 1 tablespoon of butter. Add salt and pepper. Serve warm.
Sweet Potato Side Effects
Adverse reactions from eating sweet potatoes are unknown.
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