In terms of micronutrients, boiled sweet potatoes come out on top in terms of vitamin C, magnesium, calcium, iron and phosphorus while the regular potato wins when it comes to potassium, Vitamin B1 and folic acid.
Sweet potatoes contain more antioxidants and fiber than regular potatoes, and slightly fewer calories. Fiber can also help you feel fuller for longer, adds Huggins. “Baked or boiled sweet potatoes contain both soluble and insoluble fiber which adds volume,” Huggins says.
Red Desiree Potatoes are part of the Red Potato family and are considered to be the healthiest of all potatoes, as they contain the highest levels of vitamins, minerals and healthy phytochemicals.
Boiling sweet potatoes retains more beta-carotene and makes the nutrient more absorbable than other cooking methods such as baking or frying. Up to 92% of the nutrient can be retained by limiting the cook time, such as boiling in a pot with a tightly covered lid for 20 minutes.
While both our experts say eating a sweet potato a day is certainly healthy, they don't recommend more than that, since there are plenty of other vegetables to enjoy too. “If you're eating more than one a day, you might want to consider varying up your food choices so you get a variety of nutrients,” Rizzo says.
One small sweet potato contains half the calories as a piece of toast. Vitamins A and C don't even register on the charts for bread, while sweet potatoes offer a good source of vitamin C and some potassium.
Not Eating Sweet Potato Skins
Removing the skins removes some of the nutrients from the potato, so don't peel them if you're making healthy sweet potato recipes. The skin also helps the inside stay moist as the potato cooks.
Unfortunately, sweet potatoes are still considered a high-carb food. That means, if you are following a low-carb diet, sweet potatoes will most likely be on the list of foods not to eat. Sweet potatoes are low-fat.
The sweet potato had the lowest vitamin profile, as well as the largest sodium-to-potassium ratio. A relatively larger sodium-to-potassium ratio provides a lower score. That's because sodium possesses hypertensive properties, while potassium (and calcium) possess hypotensive properties.
If your sweet potato is oozing, soft and squishy, discolored, smelly, or have a bunch of sprouts, it's time to toss. If there are only a few sprouts and the sweet potato is still firm you can cut the sprouted portion off, cook and eat right away, or you can plant it!
And unlike white bread, the starch in potatoes hasn't been refined to deplete nutrients. Potatoes also deliver niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin C and magnesium. They're a great source of potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure.
In a nutrition battle between a banana and sweet potato, the sweet potato would come out ahead. A baked sweet potato has the same calories per gram as a banana, yet has one gram more fiber and five grams less sugar per medium serving.
The sweet potatoes saved the population from certain starvation as they are absolutely packed with nutritional vitamins, minerals, and key antioxidants. To this day Koreans love sweet potato as a diet food because it is rich in fiber and is quickly filling.
The long answer: One medium-size potato has just 110 calories and is absolutely fat-, salt and cholesterol free, making them a nutritious and filling food when you're trying to lose body fat.
You do not need to peel a sweet potato prior to cooking it in the oven. The skins of sweet potatoes are safe to eat, both raw and cooked, and contain nutrients such as fiber and antioxidants. Whether or not you peel the potato is completely personal preference.
Do I Need to Peel Before Boiling? You do not need to peel sweet potatoes before boiling. If leaving the peel on, you will need to pierce the skin of the potato with a fork a few times. Also, boiling a sweet potato with the peel will require slightly more time for it to cook through.
Since sweet potatoes grow underground, it is essential to scrub them before peeling them to remove any residual dirt or bacteria from the skins—use warm water and your hands or a scrubbing brush. Completely dry the sweet potatoes with a tea towel or paper towel.
Sweet potatoes are healthier than pumpkins because they contain more magnesium, potassium, fiber, copper and vitamins A and B6. Sweet potatoes provide antioxidants like beta-carotene which helps support the immune system.
The sweet potato scores higher than the rice in fiber, giving you 13 percent of the daily value (DV) on a 2,000-calorie diet, while brown rice supplies just 7 percent. Fiber has numerous benefits, including maintaining healthy bowel movements, assisting with weight control and helping to lower cholesterol.
Sweet potato has more beta-carotene than apple, however, apple contains more lutein + zeaxanthin than sweet potato. Sweet potato has more thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, Vitamin B6 and folate. Both sweet potatoes and apple are high in dietary fiber. Sweet potato has 60% less sugar than apple.
Being a good source of potassium, sweet potatoes can help you manage your blood sugar level, reducing the risk of heart problems. But when consumed in excess may not be a good idea. Excess potassium intake may lead to hyperkalemia or potassium toxicity and can be a reason for heart attack.
Avocados as a part of your diet can be helpful in both weight loss and weight management. Also, they are rich in anti-inflammatory properties and oleic acid, improving the digestive process and reducing the risk of obesity. In addition, unlike other diet-related foods, avocados have less than a gram of sugar.