Sweet potato is one of the famous snacking option but many people underestimate its nutrient power as potato have a bad repo among most of the population. Generally, potato is related to weight gain and insulin resistance but potato and sweet potato are different in terms of their nutrient profile. Below are some benefits of sweet potato because of its nutrition profile:
- Vitamin A rich: Sweet potato is specifically rich in beta-carotene which is vitamin A equivalent. Beta-carotene is vegetarian source of vitamin A which is considered to be vitamin A equivalent. 1 cup of sweet potato provides almost 961 μg of beta-carotene which is approximately 120% of daily value. Vitamin A is important for healthy vision and eye health which prevent night blindness and muscular damage because of diabetes.
- Rich in Fibre: Sweet potato is a source of complex carbohydrates specially fibre which helps in keeping colon healthy. When sweet potato is boiled or roasted instead of frying it improves the fibre profile and helps in improving the digestion for overall health and well being. 1 cup of baked sweet potato provides approximately 4 gm of total fibre. This will keeps you full for longer and helps in regularising bowel movement.
- Antioxidant: Sweet potato is rich in antioxidants which helps in scavenging free radical in the body. Depending upon the colour of flesh of sweet potato the available carotenoid antioxidant varies. For example, purple-fleshed sweet potato contain plenty of anthocyanin antioxidant. Cyanidins and peonidins are found in the starchy part of purple-fleshed sweet potatoes and are more concentrated in skin as compared to skin.
- Improves Blood Sugar Retention: Many people have a bad repo of sweet potato but it can help in improving the sugar retention even in diabetes patients. Sweet potato is a rich source of fibre and complex carbohydrates which delay the digestion time and did not lead to instant spike in sugar. The glycemic index of sweet potato is referred as medium but still provide steady and gradual release of sugar that help in regulation of serum sugar levels.
- Anti-inflammatory Properties: Anthocyanin and other colour pigments are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. High inflammation can lead to many cardiovascular disorders and anti-inflammatory compounds helps in balancing these disorders without possessing any health hazard.
Not only above, sweet potato also contain other micro nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium and manganese. Therefore, include sweet potato in between your meals as a snacking option to get the maximum benefits.