9 Health Benefits of Sweet Potatoes

Not only are sweet potatoes readily available, inexpensive, and delicious, there are many other reasons to love these yummy vegetables. Here are 9:

1. They are high in vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 helps reduce the chemical homocysteine in our bodies. Homocysteine has been linked with degenerative diseases, including the prevention of heart attacks.

2. They are a good source of vitamin C. While most people know that vitamin C is important to help ward off cold and flu viruses, few people are aware that this crucial vitamin plays an important role in bone and tooth formation, digestion, and blood cell formation. It helps accelerate wound healing, produces collagen which helps maintain skin’s youthful elasticity, and is essential to helping us cope with stress. It even appears to help protect our body against toxins that may be linked to cancer.

3. They contain Vitamin D which is critical for immune system and overall health at this time of year. Both a vitamin and a hormone, vitamin D is primarily made in our bodies as a result of getting adequate sunlight. You may have heard about seasonal affective disorder (or SAD, as it is also called), which is linked to inadequate sunlight and therefore a vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D plays an important role in our energy levels, moods, and helps to build healthy bones, heart, nerves, skin, and teeth, and it supports the thyroid gland.

4. Sweet potatoes contain iron. Most people are aware that we need the mineral iron to have adequate energy, but iron plays other important roles in our body, including red and white blood cell production, resistance to stress, proper immune functioning, and the metabolizing of protein, among other things.

5. Sweet potatoes are a good source of magnesium, which is the relaxation and anti-stress mineral. Magnesium is necessary for healthy artery, blood, bone, heart, muscle, and nerve function, yet experts estimate that approximately 80 percent of the population in North America may be deficient in this important mineral.

Discover many great ways to enjoy sweet potatoes on page 2…

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Shalvah L.

4:15AM PDT on Apr 30, 2012

I was looking for information about sweet potatoes after a discussion with a friend who pointed out to me that there are no chemicals used growing them, and am I glad to read this, I wonder why I hadn't picked up on it yet, I love sweet potatoes.
I can not agree that they are inexpensive, they are VERY expensive here, but with so many health benefits, I say worth it!
About.com helped clear up confusion about sweet potato vs. yam. I bought sweet potatoes; I have never seen a yam!

send a green star

Sonny H.

5:42AM PST on Mar 6, 2012

Thanks. Will look for the yellow variety.

Carmen S.

11:40AM PST on Nov 30, 2011

thanks for this, always knew they were healthy, but no matter how prepared, still not a fan

Marie Therese H.

6:08AM PST on Nov 30, 2011

I am not crazy about their taste but will make an effort to eat them after reading this article.

Megan K.

4:37PM PST on Nov 29, 2011

Great to know I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE sweet potatoes anyhow this only makes me love them more

Sarah M.

11:28AM PST on Nov 29, 2011

thanks

Lauren W.

9:16PM PST on Nov 28, 2011

I look forward to sweet potatoes in the winter- for a snack or a filler. I roast a few in my toaster oven.. yum.

Lika S.

1:05AM PST on Nov 28, 2011

Sweet potatoes are great in tempura, also, a Japanese dish. I love sweet potatoes, especially baked with a little butter, salt & pepper to taste, and a cinnamon & brown sugar mix.

Aubrey G.

11:47PM PST on Nov 26, 2011

Dont you just loive it when good tasting food is good for you?

11:46PM PST on Nov 26, 2011

okay cut your sweet potatos very thinly then boil them in hot water set to 400 farenhiet and let them sit in their for ten minutes(based on your judgment) and then leave them out to dry with pinches of salt on top. YOU HAVE HEALTHY CHIPS!