The holidays wouldn’t be complete without delicious and nutritious sweet potatoes. Chances are you’ve been enjoying sweet potatoes but haven’t given much thought to their nutritional and health-promoting qualities. Here are 10 reasons to love sweet potatoes:
1. Beta Carotene — Their orange color is the giveaway that they are high in beta carotene, which is the precursor to vitamin A in the body and helps ensure a healthy immune system and great skin. A small amount of natural fat like extra virgin olive oil helps increase absorption of beta carotene.
2. Batatosides — Recently researchers discovered a related group of nutrients in sweet potatoes called batatosides that have been found to have antibacterial and antifungal properties.
3. Cyanidins and Peonidins — New research shows that cyanidins and peonidins found in sweet potatoes may be able to lower the potential health risk posed by heavy metals.
4. Antioxidants — A particular type of protein found in sweet potatoes called sporamins are potent antioxidants that help reduce the effects of aging and disease.
5. Inflammation Reduction — Compounds found in sweet potatoes reduce inflammation. In animal studies consuming sweet potatoes reduced inflammation in the brain and nerve tissue throughout the body.
6. Reduced Fibrinogen — Sweet potatoes appear to reduce the amount of fibrinogen in the body, which means it may be helpful for diseases like multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia.
1. Beta Carotene — Their orange color is the giveaway that they are high in beta carotene, which is the precursor to vitamin A in the body and helps ensure a healthy immune system and great skin. A small amount of natural fat like extra virgin olive oil helps increase absorption of beta carotene.
2. Batatosides — Recently researchers discovered a related group of nutrients in sweet potatoes called batatosides that have been found to have antibacterial and antifungal properties.
3. Cyanidins and Peonidins — New research shows that cyanidins and peonidins found in sweet potatoes may be able to lower the potential health risk posed by heavy metals.
4. Antioxidants — A particular type of protein found in sweet potatoes called sporamins are potent antioxidants that help reduce the effects of aging and disease.
5. Inflammation Reduction — Compounds found in sweet potatoes reduce inflammation. In animal studies consuming sweet potatoes reduced inflammation in the brain and nerve tissue throughout the body.
6. Reduced Fibrinogen — Sweet potatoes appear to reduce the amount of fibrinogen in the body, which means it may be helpful for diseases like multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia.