Sweet potatoes are sweet and starchy vegetables grown worldwide. There are a number of varieties of sweet potatoes. The most common types include white and purple-colored potatoes.
Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes are prepared differently by different people. In most cases, it depends on the kind of dish being prepared. While some simply boil the potatoes and eat them, others prefer frying them to add flavor.
Some people even eat them raw due to their sweet taste.
Interesting fact: Orange/yellow-fleshed potatoes have been confirmed to have many health benefits including promoting a healthy vision, improving your gut health, and helping with brain function and dementia.
The most common ways to prepare sweet potatoes include:
- Sweet potato fries
- Boiled sweet potatoes can be eaten whole or mashed.
- Baked sweet potatoes or used as an ingredient in baked foods.
- Toasted sweet potatoes
If you have never tried using sweet potatoes in baking, do it. It’s worth the try.
There are a number of benefits of sweet potatoes:
1. Sweet Potatoes can be good for your eyes.
Sweet potatoes have antioxidants that support healthy vision. The antioxidants(Beta-carotene) are responsible for the orange color in the potatoes.
When consumed, the beta-carotene in sweet potatoes is converted to Vitamin A which creates receptors that detect light in your eyes. Beta-carotene also helps reduce inflammation.
2. They are natural and have low-fat levels and unprocessed, natural sugar.
Sometimes it is important to take a break from wheat products and other baked foods. Sweet potatoes can make a great breakfast dish even if just boiled. With a well-prepared stew, sweet potatoes can be a delicious and heavy meal for you and your family.
If you intend to eat more natural foods, this is one of the vegetables you should add to your list.
3. They can help enhance Brain Function
Purple sweet potatoes are rich in anthocyanin that have been said to protect the brain. The anthocyanin reduces inflammation and may also prevent brain damage by free radicals in the body.
Research done on animals show that anthocyanin content from sweet potatoes also helps enhance learning and improve memory.
Sweet potatoes have also been found to help keep your gut healthy.
4. Sweet potatoes are good for your Immune System
Sweet potatoes are some of the richest natural sources of beta-carotene. This plant compound gets converted into vitamin A which is known to be important for a healthy immune system.
Generally, the consumption of fruits and vegetables has been linked to a healthy body and strong immune system. Sweet potatoes being a vegetable may also strengthen your immunity.
5. Sweet potatoes are highly nutritious
Potatoes are rich in many vitamins and minerals that are essential for good health.
A 100g plate of baked sweet potatoes contains; 90 calories, around 20 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 2grams of proteins, 0.15 grams of fat, and Vitamins such as Vitamin A, C, and B6.
Potatoes have been a delicacy for many all over the world and we hope that you try it or love it after getting to learn a few things from this article.
