4 Surprising Reasons to Eat More Sweet Potatoes!

I must confess, I’m completely addicted to sweet potatoes! ?

These vivid little root vegetables may seem mundane, but they’re actually one of the most nutritious superfoods you can find!

Rich in carbohydrates, they’re the ideal for boosting energy levels, increasing brain power and improving athletic performance.

Depending on how they’re cooked, sweet potatoes also have a low GI rating, and are not only sweet and delicious, they’re also jam-packed with essential nutrients.

There are so many great reasons to eat sweet potatoes, and I really hope that today’s post will inspire you to include more of them in your diet!

4 Great Reasons to Eat More Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are packed full of vitamins and minerals.

By consuming just one cup of sweet potato a day, you’ll easily meet the recommended daily intake of Vitamin A, and more than half of the recommended daily amount of Vitamin C!

Vitamin A is a powerful antioxidant, which helps to prevent several different types of cancer, and is essential for maintaining healthy skin, hair and eyes. It also acts as a sunscreen, protecting your skin against UV damage from the sun.  

Vitamin C is an equally important antioxidant, that’s known for its anti-cancer properties. It powers the immune system and is used in collagen production, which is essential for the health of your bones, skin and connective tissue!

Vitamin C also increases the absorption of non-heme iron from your diet (that’s iron which comes from plants!) so, if you struggle with iron deficiency anaemia, be sure to consume foods high in vitamin C, along with foods containing iron!

Lastly, sweet potatoes are also high in B vitamins (especially vitamins B5 and B6) and they contain a whole range of essential minerals including potassium, magnesium, zinc, calcium and iron.  

Sweet potatoes support cardiovascular health and can help to lower blood pressure.

Sweet potatoes supply the body with a massive range of nutrients, which play an essential role in maintaining cardiovascular health.

The body uses these nutrients to regulate the heartbeat, improve blood flow, reduce inflammation, repair cellular damage, and maintain proper arterial function. 

The potassium found in sweet potatoes is used by the body to regulate fluid and electrolyte balance – and, by lowering excess sodium levels, it helps to reduce high blood pressure.

Sweet potatoes also contain magnesium, which is vital for cardiovascular health and necessary for normal nerve and muscle function. Magnesium also helps the body to cope with inflammation and stress.  

Sweet potatoes are a fantastic source of fibre, which aids digestion and weight loss.

Sweet potatoes are high in fibre, which forms an extremely important part of a healthy diet.

Unfortunately, most people eating a standard western diet are severely lacking in fibre, which leads to impaired digestive function, as well as changes in the gut microbiome.

Fibre-rich diets promote normal, healthy digestion, and that fabulous fibre adds weight and bulk to the food, which triggers feelings of fullness and satiation. This makes sweet potatoes an ideal food, for those who are trying to lose weight. 

Not only this, but a fibre-rich diet has also been associated with a reduced risk of developing cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, colon cancer and constipation.

Sweet potatoes are cheap, versatile and delicious! 

In terms of nutrition content vs cost, sweet potatoes offer amazing bang for your buck!

They’re easily found in most supermarkets (at least here, in the UK), and can be eaten in a tremendous amount of ways!

You can enjoy them steamed, boiled, roasted, toasted (in an actual toaster!), baked or even mashed.

They can be seasoned and eaten as wedges or fries, slow-roasted and eaten whole (like a jacket potato) or pureed and used as a base in a stew or pasta sauce. 

If you have a sweet tooth, they can even be used to make tasty desserts, such as sweet potato pie and vegan ice-cream! 

Depending on their variety and how you decide to prepare them, sweet potatoes can taste very different – so hopefully, almost everyone out there can find a way to enjoy them!

How do you like to eat yours? Please let me know in the comments below – I’d love to hear your thoughts! (Personally, I enjoy sweet potatoes best when used in a curry, or made into these yummy sweet potato falafels!)

Please note: I’m not a doctor, and the information on this website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor regarding any medical condition.