Monday, December 15, 2008

Sweet Potato


The sweet potato has yellow or orange flesh, and its thin skin may either be white, yellow, orange, red or purple. Sometimes this root vegetable will be shaped like a potato, being short and blocky with rounded ends, while other times it will be longer with tapered ends. There is often much confusion between sweet potatoes and yams; the moist-fleshed, orange-colored root vegetable that is often called a "yam" is actually a sweet potato.

Sweet potato is a low-calories and fat free vegetable with an abundance of healthy minerals such as beta-carotene, Vitamin A, C and E, magnesium, potassium and rich in antioxidants.

These nutrients and minerals help to protect against heart attack and stroke, reducing blood pressure and maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance in the body cells. Studies on animals have also shown that diabetics would benefit from a diet which includes sweet potatoes as they help to stabilise blood sugar levels and to lower insulin resistance. Taking into consideration of fibre content, complex carbohydrates, protein, vitamins A and C, iron, and calcium plus the other aforementioned minerals, the sweet potato is ranked highest in nutritional value amongst other vegetables.

Vitamin-C and B-complex and minerals like potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc are good for the skin. Apart from that, pulp obtained from crushed raw potatoes, mixed with honey, can serve as excellent skin and face packs. This helps even curing pimples and spots on the skin. Again, this pulp, if applied externally on burns, gives a quick relief and heals fast. Smashed potatoes, even water in which potatoes are washed, are very good for softening and cleaning skin, especially around elbows, back of the palms etc.

Health Benefits of Sweet Potato :

1.Sweet potato is rich in Vitamin A (betacarotene) and Vitamin C. Both Vitamins A and C are powerful antioxidants that work in the body to remove free radicals, this free radicals are chemicals that damage cells.

2.Sweet potato is good for stomach ulcers and inflamed conditions of the colon.

3.Sweet potato is beneficial for low blood pressure.

4.Its helpful for hemorrhoid because of its high fiber content.

5.Sweet potato is a good food for people involved in heavy muscular work, since this food is high in vitamins and minerals.

6.Sweet potato may help prevent cancer in glands and organs with epithelial tissue due to its high Vitamin A content.

7.Sweet potato is a good food for diabetics, because it helped stabilize blood sugar levels.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Wow(",)! great, I didn't know you'll get a lot of benefits from a sweet potato. Now I know, and from now on, potato is included to the top of my list for my diet(",).