Sweet potatoes are a healthy food source that can provide you with several benefits. Because of their higher sugar levels and high vitamin A content, you can likely enjoy them in moderation about two or three times per week.
As sweet potatoes contain a lot of carbohydrates and sugar, consuming too many of it on a daily basis can lead to quick weight gain. Try to eat sweet potatoes once or twice during the week and also add other fruits and vegetables to get a full nutritious diet.
Consuming sweet potatoes in excess can result in Vitamin A toxicity which is manifested in skin rashes and headaches. Due to high fibre content, excess intake of sweet potatoes can result in bloating, stomach pain and diarrhoea.
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.
Just one sweet potato gives you 400% of the vitamin A you need each day. This helps keep your eyes healthy as well as your immune system, your body's defense against germs. It's also good for your reproductive system and organs like your heart and kidneys.
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.
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.
Sweet potatoes contain potassium. A high potassium intake may not be suitable for people who take beta-blockers. Doctors commonly prescribe these for heart disease, and they can cause potassium levels to rise in the blood. People with kidney problems should also take note of how much potassium they consume.
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!
The beta-carotene in sweet potatoes has been shown to fight inflammation, and eating them regularly can help ease joint pain and other symptoms of inflammatory conditions like arthritis. If you're looking for a delicious way to reduce inflammation, add some sweet potatoes to a salad or bake alongside protein!
“One serving of sweet potatoes is generally about 4 to 5 ounces,” says Mackenzie Burgess, RDN, registered dietitian nutritionist and recipe developer atCheerful Choices.
There are a few disadvantages to eating sweet potatoes. They can cause digestive issues like gas and bloating because of the soluble fiber in them. Another disadvantage of sweet potatoes is the risk of kidney stones because of the oxalate compounds present in them.
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.
“Sweet potatoes are great sources of potassium, magnesium, and calcium to help you relax,” nutrition director Jaclyn London told Good Housekeeping. She suggests swapping a baked sweet potato for whatever you eat right before going to bed.
Sweet potatoes are especially gentle on the digestive tract because they are mostly made up of insoluble fiber, which speeds up digestion and promotes regularity.
Yes, you can eat sweet potato skin, whether it's an orange, white or purple sweet potato. So the next time you make sweet potatoes, try keeping the skin on. Not only will it save you prep time and add a textural component to the dish, but there are also nutritional benefits to leaving the peel on.
Sweet Potatoes
A favorite in many holiday menus, sweet potatoes are a great source of potassium, which naturally helps to lower blood pressure by reducing the effects of sodium and tension in the blood vessels. Pack a double punch against high blood pressure when you use cinnamon to add flavor to this beloved dish.
Eating potassium-rich sweet potatoes helps promote a healthy heart. Higher potassium intake allows you to excrete more sodium lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk for heart disease according to the American Heart Association.
Sweet potatoes are great for digestion and gut health.
Sweet potatoes contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. The human body can't digest either type—so instead of breaking down as they pass through the digestive tract, these fibers travel along intact, doing great things for your gut in the process.
The Bottom Line
You can eat sweet potato skin. It's a good source of fiber, a nutrient that may help lower the risk of heart disease and keep you feeling full for longer periods of time. The next time you make a sweet potato dish, whether it's a roasted side dish or a hearty, cozy casserole, leave the peel on.
Baking can also cause an 80% drop in vitamin A levels, twice as much as boiling. Therefore, from a nutritional standpoint, boiling rather than baking should be recommended for cooking sweet potato.
Baking a sweet potato in the microwave preserves far more nutrients (folate, vitamins A and C) than boiling it, for example.