Thanksgiving is right around the corner and most of us will soon be feasting on a nice variety of tasty foods. One traditional side dish also happens to be one of the oldest and most nutritious vegetables known to man: the sweet potato. How old you ask? Sweet potato relics dating back 10,000 years have been found in Peruvian caves, suggesting they have been consumed since prehistoric times! Sweet potatoes are also very healthy for you. Here are some of its many benefits:
Sweet potatoes are a good source of fiber: just eat one and you are getting more fiber than a bowl of oatmeal.
The sweet potato has recently been classified as an anti-diabetic food because it helps stabilize blood sugar levels and lower insulin resistance: something sweet that diabetics can eat!
Sweet potatoes have unique root storage proteins that have been shown to exert about one-third the antioxidant activity of glutathione, one of the body's most important internally produced antioxidants. They are also excellent sources of vitamin C and beta-carotene, which further assist your body in eliminating free radicals.
Just one-half cup of cooked sweet potatoes provides 15 mg of beta-carotene, which translates into over four times your daily value of vitamin A! It would take 23 cups of broccoli to provide the same amount!
Vitamin A plays a vital role in aiding the human retina and supporting the immune system, and is necessary for normal cell growth and development. A vitamin A deficiency can have a devastating effect on your skin, hair, eyes, and immune system.
Recent studies also indicate that vitamin A may help prevent or reduce the effects of emphysema. Benzo(a)pyrene, a common carcinogen found in cigarette smoke, has been shown to induce vitamin A deficiency, suggesting that a diet high in vitamin A can help counter this effect and possibly prevent emphysema and other complications associated with smoking.
Without a doubt, sweet potatoes are one of the healthiest foods to feast on over the holidays! |
