Are Sweet Potatoes Good for You?

Are sweet potatoes good for you? Sweet potatoes provide a number of health benefits, some of which might surprise you.

The average American consumes only 4.2 pounds of sweet potatoes per year, and if my observations are correct, most of that comes from the occasional side of sweet potato fries served with sandwiches at restaurants.

Of course, sweet potato fries are not particularly healthy because of the grease they are fried in. But what about baked sweet potatoes? Are sweet potatoes good for you and can they be part of a good diet?

Are sweet potatoes good for you? What the science says

Several years back, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) did a study of 18 vegetables and ranked them according to a complex scoring system that took into account fiber, vitamins, and nutrients. The sweet potato posted the best score in the study, by a mile.

These were the top ten vegetables in the CSPI study and their scores:

Sweet potato, baked 184
Potato, baked 83
Spinach 76
Kale 55
Broccoli 52
Mixed vegetables 52
Winter squash, baked 44
Brussels sprouts 37
Raw cabbage 34
Green peas 33

The score for sweet potatoes was more than double the score of any other vegetable! I was blown away by the numbers.

One sweet potato provides more than twice the daily recommended intake of Vitamin A and one third of the daily requirement of Vitamin C. They are full of Vitamin B6, fiber, iron and potassium and contain very little fat and sodium.

The health benefits of sweet potatoes are numerous. Studies have shown they can be beneficial to individuals with conditions like diabetes, cancer, arthritis and stomach ulcers.

The best thing about sweet potatoes and yams is that their natural flavor means that additional topping like butter or salt aren't necessary. They can be eaten plain as a side dish with lean meat or other vegetables. Eating the potatoes in this manner ensures that you get the maximum health benefit from them.

Are sweet potatoes good for you? The verdict
The conclusion is that not only are sweet potatoes good for you, but they are probably the most nutritious vegetable you can possibly eat - assuming you're not loading them up with butter or cooking them in grease to make French fries.

Sweet potato recipes are all over the internet so you won't have any trouble figuring out how to prepare them. If you want to experience the health benefits of sweet potatoes for yourself, give them a try the next time you're wandering through the produce section.

Are sweet potatoes good for you? Sources

http://www.sweetpotatoblessings.com/number1.htm

http://www.cspinet.org/nah/10foods_bad.html

http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/vegetable/health-benefits-of-sweet-potatoes.html