Sweet potatoes are an often over-looked vegetable. This is unfortunate, as they contain an abundance of beneficial vitamins and nutrients. They are inexpensive, always readily available, and taste great. Eating sweet potatoes can help your body control blood sugar and improve your overall health, among other benefits.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF SWEET POTATOES
If you are looking for reasons to eat sweet potatoes, look over some of the additional advantages of this super vegetable.
First off, sweet potatoes is one of the rare vegetables that contain vitamin B6. This vitamin helps to reduce the levels of a chemical called homocysteine—which has been linked to heart attacks and various degenerative diseases.
Sweet potatoes are also a good source of vitamins C and D. Vitamin C helps boost your immune system and is an excellent antioxidants that reduces damages done by free radicals. Both vitamins are necessary for bone growth, digestion, and blood cells formation.
Eating sweet potatoes will provide you with iron, magnesium, potassium, and beta-carotene. Iron and magnesium are a couple other useful minerals for boosting your immune system and helping to reduce stress. Magnesium also helps promote better heart health and red and white blood cell production.
The beta-carotene found in sweet potatoes is converted into vitamin A by your body when needed, thus there is no toxicity of overdose. Vitamin A is needed to improve eyesight, your immune system, and is a powerful antioxidant. By eating sweet potatoes, you are receiving beneficial vitamins and nutrients that will help control your blood sugar and increase your immune system.
BUYING AND STORING SWEET POTATOES
There are a few precautions, when you go to the store to buy sweet potatoes. Always check the sweet potatoes before buying. Make sure that they are firm, without any bruises, cracks, holes (think worms) or soft spots. You should also avoid sweet potatoes stored in refrigerated aisles, as the colder temperature can affect the taste.
When you get your sweet potatoes home, you should store them in a cool dark place, but not in the fridge. They should remain fresh for up to ten days.
Always use only organic sweet potatoes!
SWEET POTATO JUICE RECIPE
If you are looking for a way to include sweet potatoes in your diet, you will love this sweet potato juice recipe. It makes a great breakfast or snack and is easy to prepare. You can use your juicer, or if you do not have a juicer, use your blender.
Sweet Potato Juice Ingredients:
- 1-2 raw sweet potato
- 2 carrots
- 1 jicama
- 4-6 ribs of celery
- A pinch of cinnamon
Sweet Potato Juice Directions:
To make your own sweet potato juice, juice all of the produce from the ingredients listed above. Combine the juiced ingredients and sprinkle a little cinnamon on top.
Use this recipe to start adding sweet potatoes to your diet. Have sweet potato juice for breakfast, lunch, or as a midday snack to include more vitamins and minerals in your diet.