Sweet potatoes are one of the greatest sources of beta-carotene of all vegetables, even higher than carrots. One small sweet potato contains 369% of your daily need of vitamin A! They are also loaded with vitamin C, potassium, calcium, and carbohydrates, and are a good source of fiber, as well as a rare low-fat source of vitamin E.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest ranked sweet potatoes as number one in Vitamins A and C, folate, iron, copper calcium, and fiber.
Sweet potatoes contain phytochemicals including quercetin and chlorogenic acid which research has shown are effective in fighting cancer.
Immunologist Tim Kramer, studied a group of people who for three weeks ate nothing but kale, sweet potatoes and a glass of tomato juice, giving them beta-carotene in sweet potatoes, lutein in kale and lycopene in tomato juice. The results were amazing — in just three weeks, all volunteers had a 33 percent increase in immunity measured by the T-cell’s ability to multiply!
People actually often use the terms sweet potato and yam interchangeably, but they not even botanically related. Yams are almost exclusively grown in Africa and are more dry and starchy compared to a sweet potato.
There are two different varieties of sweet potatoes, firm and soft. Today, you are unlikely to find a true yam in the grocery store unless you are shopping in an international market.
1. Sweet potatoes are high in vitamin B6, which helps lower homocysteine in our bodies and reduce the risk of heart attacks.
2. Sweet potatoes are a good source of vitamin C, important for proper immune functioning, collagen production, digestion, and it helps us deal with stress.
3. Sweet potatoes also contain iron, important for red and white blood cell production, resistance to stress, proper imÂmune functioning, and the metabolizing of protein.
4. Sweet potatoes are a good source of magÂnesium, which is our relaxation and anti-stress master mineral. Experts estimate that approximately 80 percent of the populaÂtion in North America may be deficient in this important mineral.
5. The rich color of sweet potatoes indicates that they are high in carotenoids like beta carotene, which is a precursor to vitamin A in your body. Carotenoids are powerful antioxidants that help ward off cancer and protect against the effects of aging. Studies have shown a 32 percent reduction in risk of lung cancer in people who consumed a variety of carotenoid-rich foods as part of their regular diet.
Enjoy some sweet potatoes today!
