Sweet potatoes are a great way to incorporate healthier, nutrient-dense foods in your diet, especially if you’ve been trying to lose weight.
Although carbs have recently gotten bad press due to the rise in popularity of protein-dense diets such as the keto diet, sweet potatoes are still considered healthy because they are a low-glycemic index complex carb. They also contain higher levels of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants than other root vegetables, making them a healthy staple food choice. What’s more, they’re a healthy way to satisfy your sweet tooth without processed sugar.
Here, we explore other top reasons why you should incorporate sweet potatoes into your diet.
Improve Your Vision
Sweet potatoes contain beta-carotene, a key antioxidant that supports eye health and prevents eye diseases. In a 2010 study, researchers found that beta-carotene was the driving force behind improving vision among certain patients with the incurable genetic disorder retinitis pigmentosa.
Just one cup of sweet potatoes provides 375% of the daily recommended allowance of beta-carotene.
Maintain Your Blood Sugar Levels
Sweet potatoes are great low-glycemic-index foods and come with various healthy nutrients that pack an impressive punch to your diet, including vitamins, potassium, manganese, fiber, and antioxidants.
Their glycemic index number is also on the lower end, which means less hunger or weight gain than with higher GI foods. A low glycemic index helps your body regulate your blood sugar levels, preventing the disastrous crash-and-burn typical after eating simple carbs.
Lose Weight
Although carbs aren’t ideal for low-calorie diets, eating sweet potatoes may make it easier to lose weight and shed those extra pounds. A recent study revealed that overweight people aged 30 to 50 years who replaced two meals a day with sweet potato-based meal replacement shakes typically lost weight and lowered their BMI while also reducing body fat.
Fight Inflammation
Sweet potatoes are instrumental in fighting inflammation after an injury. They’re rich in antioxidants such as beta-carotene and vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K, which help fight inflammation brought about by injuries or illness.
So next time you need to heal quickly, reach for this superfood in addition to your medication to aid your recovery.
Improve Your Digestive Health
Sweet potatoes are a great food to eat when you want something filling, satisfying, and good for your digestive system. They provide just the right amount of fiber with every serving, which keeps you fuller for longer. If you’ve recently suffered constipation, sweet potatoes can improve the regularity of your digestive system.
Fight Premature Aging
Carotenoids in food such as sweet potatoes and carrots help prevent you from aging before your time. These antioxidants protect cells against the sun’s harmful rays and pollutants like secondhand smoke and pesticides to keep your skin and hair looking youthful for longer.
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