Tuesday 3 March 2020

What You Need To Know About Sweet Potatoes


The potato is a root vegetable native to the Americas, a starchy tuber of the plant Solanum tuberosum, and the plant itself, a perennial in the family Solanaceae.
Sweet potato also contains B vitamins, calcium, and other essential vitamins and minerals. Eating sweet potato skin can increase its nutritional value.

The color of the skin can vary from white to yellow and purple to brown. However, whatever color it is, it will provide additional nutrients. Sweet potatoes are a staple food in many parts of the world. They are a good source of fiber, potassium, vitamins, and other essential nutrients.

                                               Benefits Of Sweet PotatoesSweet potato may offer a variety of health benefits. Here are some of the ways in which they may benefit a person’s health:

1. Bone health
  The iron, phosphorous, calcium, magnesium, and zinc in potatoes all help the body to build and maintain bone structure and strength. Iron and zinc play crucial roles in the production and maturation of collagen.

2. Blood pressure
 A low sodium intake is essential for maintaining a healthy blood pressure, but increasing potassium intake may be just as important. Potassium encourages vasodilation, or the widening of the blood vessels. Potassium, calcium, and magnesium are all present in the potato. These have been found to decrease blood pressure naturally.

3. Heart health
 The potato’s fiber, potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin B6 content, coupled with its lack of cholesterol, all support heart health. Potatoes contain significant amounts of fiber. Fiber helps lower the total amount of cholesterol in the blood, thereby decreasing the risk of heart disease.

4. Inflammation
 Choline is an important and versatile nutrient that is present in potatoes. It helps with muscle movement, mood, learning, and memory.
It also assists in: 
  • maintaining the structure of cellular membranes 
  • transmitting nerve impulses 
  • the absorption of fat 
  • early brain development 
5. Cancer
  Potatoes contain folate. Folate plays a role in DNA synthesis and repair, and so it prevents many types of cancer cells from forming due to mutations in the DNA. Fiber intake from fruits and vegetables like potatoes are associated with a lowered risk of colorectal cancer. Vitamin C and quercetin also function as antioxidants, protecting cells against damage from free radicals. 

6. Digestion and regularity
 
The fiber content in potatoes helps prevent constipation and promote regularity for a healthy digestive tract. 

7. Weight management and satiety
  
Dietary fibers are commonly recognized as important factors in weight management and weight loss. They act as “bulking agents” in the digestive system. They increase satiety and reduce appetite, so a person feels fuller for longer and is less likely to consume more calories. 

8. Metabolism
 
Potatoes are a great source of vitamin B6. This plays a vital role in energy metabolism, by breaking down carbohydrates and proteins into glucose and amino acids. These smaller compounds are more easily utilized for energy within the body. 

9. Skin: Collagen is the skin’s support system. Vitamin C works as an antioxidant to help prevent damage caused by the sun, pollution, and smoke. Vitamin C also helps collagen smooth wrinkles and improve overall skin texture. 

10. Immunity: Research has found that vitamin C may help reduce the severity and duration of a cold. Potatoes are a good source of vitamin C.

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