As a food that’s so cheap and so good for you, it’s tempting to ditch all your other carbs and become a full on Sweet Potato. But for those of us that are fans of this holy grail of tubers, is it possible to get too much of a good thing....READ ORIGINAL & FULL CONTENT FROM SOURCE | READ ORIGINAL & FULL CONTENT FROM SOURCE...
And if sweet potatoes are a pretty regular part of your diet through the holidays and believe us, they are on our dinner tables, what’s happening to your body with each bite:
1.Better blood sugar control. It’s important to note, however, that despite their strong nutritional profile, further research is needed into sweet potatoes’ specific benefits for type 2 diabetes. Equally important to point out is the fact that sweet potatoes are, at the end of the day, starches, and eating any starch too often may wreak havoc on blood sugar levels . Sweet potatoes will likely have less of an impact on blood sugar than regular white potatoes will.
2.Restored magnesium levels.A healthy diet includes dozens of vitamins and minerals, and some, like magnesium, might escape your radar. But luckily, eating sweet potatoes daily will help you keep your intake topped up, as the root vegetable is rich in magnesium.
It’s a mineral that makes a big impact, despite us only needing small amounts of it in our diets. Magnesium affects muscle control, nerve function, blood glucose levels, energy production, and bowel motility, as well as being hugely important for bone health.While true deficiencies in magnesium are rare and supplementation is generally unnecessary, it’s useful to consider the sources in your diet and add more if needed.
3.Fortified immune system. Giving your immune system a little love through good nutrition is always a good idea, as it is your body’s most essential line of defense from sickness. Eating sweet potatoes frequently is a tried and tested way to do it.
Sweet potatoes bolster our immune system largely through the antioxidant effect they provide. These antioxidants help to fight against the damage done by free radicals in the body, which can chip away at immune system cells, weakening our immunity.
In addition, sweet potatoes’ abundant vitamin A supply helps keep our immune system healthy. The beta-carotene in sweet potatoes is then converted to vitamin A by the body, which then helps maintain mucous membranes. This contributes to keeping infection at bay, both in the gut and throughout our respiratory system, thereby fortifying our immunity.
4.Longevity.Throwing a sweet potato into the mix every day could help you live longer, thanks to their enviable beta-carotene content, the pigment which leads to vitamin A production in the body. Having higher levels of beta-carotene is associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality and generally living longer, potentially due to beta-carotene’s protective effects against long-term, chronic diseases.
Sweet potatoes are one of the top sources of beta-carotene out there, and the pigment is highest in your classic orange potato variety. As beta-carotene helps give orange and yellow foods its distinctive color, you can also expect to find it in carrots, apricots, butternut squash, cantaloupe, and red and yellow peppers. Additionally, dark, leafy greens and broccoli contain beta-carotene.
5.Easier exercise.Have you ever wondered why sports drinks boast about having electrolytes and potassium in them. Well, it’s more than just smart marketing. Potassium has an important function when it comes to exercise thanks to its hand in regulating hydration and fluid balance . Potassium also aids in proper muscle contraction, and in how effectively your muscles can store carbohydrates, also reasons why adequate levels of it are so vital to help us exercise effectively. This is why bananas are usually the go-to snack for athletes, thanks to their combo of carbs and high levels of potassium.
6.Too much potassium.Sweet potatoes contain a large amount of potassium. One 5-inch raw sweet potato contains about 438 milligrams of potassium. A large, cooked sweet potato in the skin contains more than 850 milligrams.
For individuals who have chronic kidney disease or any other kidney concerns, the potassium in sweet potatoes may also be a cause for concern. Sweet potatoes potassium content may help to balance sodium levels, lessening the impact on the kidneys, but for those with chronic kidney disease or on dialysis, too much of the mineral can prove harmful as the kidneys are no longer able to process it adequately.
7.Healthy eyes.Beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A in the body, which not only improves night vision but helps support corneal function, keeping it healthy and well-lubricated. To add to this, sweet potatoes also contain good levels of B vitamins and vitamin C, both of which help to maintain eye good eye health, with vitamin B helping to reduce the risk of glaucoma and vitamin C lowering the risk of cataract development.
If you really want to eat to help your eyes, opt for purple sweet potatoes as they may be more protective against cell damage than orange ones. This is thanks to the purple variety’s presence of anthocyanins, which provide an antioxidant effect to the body.
8.Reduced inflammation.Inflammation is a perennial hot-button topic in the nutrition world and for good reason. Choosing a diet high in anti-inflammatory foods can help to protect against a host of chronic diseases. And a daily sweet potato might be your best friend in the fight against inflammation.This comes down to the tuber’s natural compounds that help to reduce the cellular inflammatory response.
9.Lower risk of colorectal cancer.The humble sweet potato is a top-tier food a delicious-tasting carb with seriously nutritional creds. And to add to their status, eating sweet potatoes regularly may even help to reduce your likelihood of developing certain types of cancer.