Not only are sweet potatoes readily available,
inexpensive, and delicious, they have many other
benefits for your health. 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 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 80percent of the population in North America may be deficient in this important mineral.

6. They are a source of potassium, one of the
important electrolytes that help regulate heartbeat
and nerve signals. Like the other electrolytes,
potassium performs many essential functions, some of which include relaxing muscle contractions, reducing swelling, and protecting and controlling the activity of the kidneys.

7. Sweet potatoes are naturally sweet-tasting but
their natural sugars are slowly released into the bloodstream , helping to ensure a balanced and
regular source of energy, without the blood sugar
spikes linked to fatigue and weight gain.

8. Their rich orange color indicates that they are
high in carotenoids like beta carotene and other carotenoids , which is the precursor to vitamin A in your body. Carotenoids help strengthen our eyesight and boost our immunity to disease, they
are powerful antioxidants that help ward off cancer and protect against the effects of aging. Studies at Harvard University of more than 124,000 people showed a 32 percent reduction in risk of lung cancer in people who consumed a variety of
carotenoid-rich foods as part of their regular diet.
Another study of women who had completed
treatment for early stage breast cancer conducted by
researchers at Women’s Healthy Eating and Living
(WHEL) found that women with the highest blood
concentrations of carotenoids had the least
likelihood of cancer recurrence.

9. There are versatile. Try them roasted, puréed,
steamed, baked, or grilled. You can add them to
soups and stews, or grill and place on top of leafy
greens for a delicious salad. I enjoy grilling them
with onions and red peppers for amazing sandwich
or wrap ingredients. Puree them and add to smoothies and baked goods.

Source: www.care2.com/greenliving/9-reasons-to-love-sweet-potatoes.html

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