Followers

Jul 25, 2014

15 NUTRITIOUS FACTS OF SWEET POTATO




1. Diabetic Food: Naturally sweet, these fibrous roots have long been considered a suitable diabetics food as their natural sugars are slowly released into the bloodstream, ensuring a balanced and regular source of energy, regulating blood sugar, and helping stabilize and lower insulin resistance.
2. Healthy Digestion: Sweet potatoes are abundant in dietary
 fiber, that helps promote a healthy digestive tract, 
increases the bulk of the stool, eases toxic waste expulsion
 relieving constipation and also helps prevent colon cancer.
3. Fights Emphysema: Studies have shown that people who
 smoke or are exposed to cigarette smoke fall victim to a 
deficiency in Vitamin A. Sweet Potatoes contain carotenoids-
beta carotene which the body converts to Vitamin A, vital for 
the health of the respiratory system.
4. Immune System: Sweet potatoes are a potent source of 
Vitamin D, a vitamin and hormone critical to our energy 
levels, moods, and body’s potential to build healthy bones,
 heart, nerves, skin, and teeth, and supporting the functions
 of the thyroid gland.
5. Cardio Care: Vital potassium content in sweet potatoes 
negates the sodium impact and helps maintain optimal fluid 
and electrolyte balance in the body cells, necessary for 
healthy blood pressure and overall heart function. Also 
Vitamin B6 helps reduce the chemical homocysteine, linked
with degenerative diseases, including heart attacks and 
stroke.
6. Muscle and Tissue Health: Potassium is one of the most 
important electrolytes that help regulate heartbeat and
 nerve signals, provide instant energy, relaxes muscle 
contractions, reduces swelling and cramps, and protects 
and controls the activity of the kidneys. A integral part of an 
athlete’s diet.
7. Anti-Oxidant: Sweet potatoes are high in carotenoids like 
beta carotene making it suitable in combating inflammatory 
problems like asthma, arthritis, gout, etc., ward off cancers 
of the lung, breast, etc. and protect against the effects of 
aging.
8. Fetal Development: Sweet potatoes are a rich source of 
folate necessary for healthy fetal cell and tissue 
development and to prevent congenital abnormalities like 
spina bifida (malformed vertebra) and neural tube defects.
9. Anti Stress: Sweet potatoes replenish our potassium 
stores, depleted by stress attacks, helping normalize the 
heartbeat, increase oxygen flow to the brain and regulate the
 body’s water balance. Sweet potato contains the relaxation 
and anti-stress mineral magnesium, necessary for healthy 
artery, blood, bone, heart, muscle, and nerve function.
10. Vitamin C SuperStore: Sweet Potatoes are abundant in 
Vitamin C, that not only wards off common cold and flu 
viruses, but is crucial in bone and tooth formation, digestion, 
blood cell formation, wound healing, shielding against 
cancer causing toxins, collagen production- key to skin’s 
elasticity, and is essential to helping us cope with stress.
11. Fights Anemia: Sweet potatoes are rich sources of the
 wonder mineral iron that not only provides adequate energy,
 but also plays an important role in red and white blood cell 
production, improves stress resistance, proper immune 
functioning, metabolizing of protein, and preventing 
debilitating anemia.
12. For Youthful Skin: Water left after boiling sweet
potatoes works as a wonder toner for the skin that helps 
absorb impurities, deep cleansing your pores and soothi
ng irritated skin. Vitamin C helps produce collagen 
necessary for healthy skin tone and elasticity. Vitamin E 
improves complexion, providing flawless skin. Anthocyanin 
helps reduce pigmentation and has anti-inflammatory 
properties that will help in getting rid of dark circles,wrinkles 
and puffiness of eyes.
13. Treats Premenstrual Symptoms: Manganese along with
 iron, present in sweet potatoes, helps in promoting healthy 
metabolism, maintaining healthy blood sugar balance, and 
treating severe premenstrual symptoms.
14. Hair Care: The presence of vitamin A or beta-carotene in 
sweet potato makes it an ideal food for hair growth, 
preventing hair problems like dull, damaged, lifeless hair 
and dandruff.
15. Vitamin/Mineral Store: Sweet potato provides a good 
amount of vital minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium,
 manganese, and potassium that are essential for enzyme, 
protein, and carbohydrate metabolism. This starchy root 
vegetable is a rich source of flavonoids, anti-oxidants and 
dietary fiber that are essential for your overall health.


1 comment: