8 Health Benefits of Sweet Potatoes

Did you know sweet potatoes are a good source of vitamin C?

Sweet potatoes are packed with calcium, potassium, and vitamins A and C. Not only do they taste like a sweet treat, they provide some surprising health benefits.

Now, don’t get sweet potatoes confused with yams. While both are good for you, sweet potatoes contain higher doses of most nutrients.

Here are 8 amazing health benefits of sweet potatoes:

1. Fiber: A 1-cup serving of sweet potatoes supplies 6.6 grams of fiber. When you eat fiber regularly, you are also less likely to get heart disease and certain types of cancer. Fiber keeps you regular.
   

2. Potassium: One cup of sweet potatoes supplies 950mg of potassium, which is about 20 percent of the 4,700 milligrams you should get each day. Potassium keeps your heart beating normally and helps your muscles work right.
   

3. Vitamin A: One serving of sweet potatoes supplies 1400mcg of vitamin A, a nutrient that keeps your eyes, skin, teeth and bones healthy.
   

4. Vitamin C: Sweet potatoes contain vitamin C. Vitamin C helps accelerate wound healing, produces collagen which helps maintain skin’s youthful elasticity, and is essen­tial to helping us cope with stress.
   

5. Iron: The iron in sweet potatoes helps you to have adequate energy. It also helps with red and white blood cell production, resistance to stress, proper immune functioning, and metabolizing protein.
   

6. Carotenoids: Sweet potatoes orange color indicates that they are high in carotenoids like beta carotene and other carotenoids, which is the precursor to vitamin A in your body. Carotenoids help strengthen our eyesight and boost our immunity to disease, they are powerful antioxidants that help ward off cancer and protect against the effects of aging.
   

7. Vitamin E: Sweet potatoes are also rich in vitamins C and E. These are potent antioxidant vitamins that play an important role in disease prevention and longevity.
   

8. Heart Healthy: Sweet potatoes contain a large amount of vitamin B6. This vitamin is crucial in breaking down a substance called homocysteine, which contributes to hardening of the arteries and blood vessels. Vitamin B6 helps keep the walls of these important blood passageways flexible and healthy which allows blood to flow freely.les’ antioxidants and pectin (a type of fiber) are responsible for the benefits—and think that fresh apples would be even more effective.