Sweet Potatoes Are The Most Nutritious Vegetables
Sweet potatoes are roots not tubers like Potatoes. They come in a variety of sizes and colors — including orange, white, and purple — and are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber.
Not to mention, they provide a number of health benefits and are easy to add to your diet.
Sweet potatoes as the #1 most nutritional vegetable,with more nutrients than even spinach or broccoli! Benefits of the sweet potato include high levels of Vitamins A and C, iron, potassium, and dietary fiber. Especially important is the high percentage of beta-carotene found in sweet potatoes.
This is converted into Vitamin A, which has the ability to reduce the risk of certain cancers.
Sweet potatoes because they have almost no fat which also makes them great for those watching their weight. With their low carbohydrate content and high fiber content, sweet potatoes keep you full for longer and give you all the essential nutrients.
Promote gut health
The fiber and antioxidants in sweet potatoes can be beneficial for gut health.
Support healthy vision
Sweet potatoes are incredibly rich in beta carotene,the antioxidant responsible for the vegetable’s bright orange color.
Beta carotene is converted to vitamin A in your body and used to form light-detecting receptors inside your eyes
Purple sweet potatoes also seem to have vision benefits.
May enhance brain function
Consuming purple sweet potatoes may improve brain function.
One animal study found that the anthocyanins in purple sweet potatoes could help protect the brain by reducing inflammation and preventing free radical damage.
May support your immune system
Orange-fleshed sweet potatoes are one of the richest natural sources of beta carotene, a plant-based compound that is converted to Vitamin A in your body .
Vitamin A is critical to a healthy immune system, and low blood levels have been linked to reduced immunity.
Improving insulin sensitivity in diabetes
Researchers found that an extract of white skinned sweet potato improved insulin sensitivity in people with type 2 diabetes.
Sweet Potato Ranks Number One In Nutrition
CSPI ranked the sweet potato number one in nutrition of all vegetables. With a score of 184, the sweet potato outscored the next highest vegetable by more than 100 points. Points were given for content of dietary fiber, naturally occurring sugars and complex carbohydrates, protein, vitamins A and C, iron and calcium. Points were deducted for fat content (especially saturated fat), sodium, cholesterol, added refined sugars and caffeine. The higher the score, the more nutritious the food.
Sweet potato baked 184
Potato, baked 83
Spinach 76
Kale 55
Mixed Vegetables 52
Broccoli 52
Winter Squash, Baked 44
Brussels Sprouts 37
Cabbage, Raw 34
Green Peas 33
Carrot 30
Okra 30
Corn on the Cob 27
Tomato 27
Green Pepper 26
Cauliflower 25
Artichoke 24
Romaine Lettuce 24
The Center for Science in the Public Interest, Washington D.C
Peoplesmind
