With its mild, sweet taste and slightly creamy texture, sweet potatoes delight young and old alike!
Rich in antioxidants, fiber, vitamins and minerals, sweet potatoes promote digestive health, boost the immune system, regulate blood sugar and improve eye health.
Eating them regularly contributes to a healthy, balanced diet. Here are 4 surprising health benefits of sweet potatoes!
Sweet potatoes improve digestive health
Sweet potatoes are a good source of dietary fibre, which helps promote digestive health!
Fiber helps prevent constipation, promotes bowel regularity and nourishes good gut bacteria, which can improve overall digestive health.
The antioxidants contained in sweet potatoes can also have beneficial effects on the gut!
Studies have shown that the antioxidants contained in purple sweet potatoes support the growth of healthy intestinal bacteria!
These bacteria are associated with a lower risk of diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome.
Sweet potatoes promote healthy eyes
Sweet potatoes are extremely rich in beta-carotene, the antioxidant responsible for this vegetable’s bright orange color!
Thanks to its high content of vitamin A, anthocyanins and beta-carotene, sweet potatoes can help maintain healthy vision and improve eye health.
These nutrients play a crucial role in eye health, and can reduce the risk of eye problems such as age-related macular degeneration(AMD).
Sweet potatoes boost the immune system
Orange-fleshed sweet potatoes are one of nature’s richest sources of beta-carotene, a compound that is converted to vitamin A in our bodies!
Studies have shown that vitamin A deficiency increases intestinal inflammation and reduces the immune system’s ability to react properly to threats.
Sweet potatoes are also rich in vitamin C, which plays an essential role in boosting the immune system.
Adequate vitamin C intake can help reduce the duration of respiratory infections, boost white blood cell production and improve overall immune function.
Sweet potatoes have anti-inflammatory effects
Certain compounds found in sweet potatoes, such as anthocyanins and flavonoids, have anti-inflammatory properties.
These compounds can reduce inflammation in the body and be beneficial for the management of inflammatory diseases such as arthritis!