The Benefits of Sweet Potatoes

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When it comes to eating healthy there are many options to choose from—but health experts say one vegetable, in particular, will give you multiple benefits. “A sweet potato is good for you. It’s rich in a lot of antioxidants as well as vitamins, especially vitamin A,” explained Ryan Morrison, a clinical dietitian with Lee Health.

Sweet potatoes are also rich in fiber—which many of us don’t get enough of each day. Men are supposed to get up to 38 grams of fiber a day and women should have up to 25 grams of fiber per day.

“Fiber is usually located in the skin of the sweet potatoes, so if you are eating sweet potatoes it’s best to leave the skin on,” said Morrison.

While it’s a popular holiday dish, dietitians say adding sweet potatoes into your meals frequently can improve your overall health. “Sweet potatoes have beta-carotene in them which is an antioxidant, and antioxidants help to reduce the free radicals in our body and reduce our chances of getting cancer and cardiovascular disease. It also has lots of fiber, B vitamins, lots of minerals, so it shouldn’t just be saved for Thanksgiving,” said Gina Skaronea, a clinical dietitian with Lee Health.

Studies show populations who eat sweet potatoes regularly have a lower risk of colon cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer. However you prepare them, it’s important to limit butter and sugar to your sweet potatoes. “There are people that add them to smoothies in the morning. For me, I like to cut them up and put them in a salad or add them to soup,” said Skaronea.

Just a few ways one vegetable can make a big difference to your overall health.