Health benefits of sweet potatoes

Looking to shake up your veggies? Consider adding more sweet potato into your diet. This vibrant root vegetable is not only packed with amazing health benefits, but it also tastes delicious and can be served up in numerous different ways.

What are the health benefits of sweet potatoes?

If you’re curious about the possible health benefits of eating sweet potatoes, let us enlighten you:¹

They’re packed with beta carotene

Thought carrots were the only major source of this nutrient? Orange sweet potatoes are also filled with beta carotene, a substance that’s used by the body to make more vitamin A. Vitamin A is vitally important for various different reasons, from supporting eye health and strengthening the lining of your gut to supporting your immune system so it’s better at fighting off illnesses.

They’re a great source of fibre

If you’re looking to boost the happiness of your gut, sweet potatoes are a great food to eat more of. They’re a rich source of both soluble and insoluble fibre, both of which are needed to promote digestion and healthy toilet habits. In fact, 200g of cooked sweet potato contains around 6.6g of fibre, which is over a fifth of the UK recommended daily intake.²

They’re full of antioxidants

Sweet potatoes, especially purple ones, contain lots of antioxidants which are used by our bodies to help  remove free radicals. A lot of them are found in the skin, so try cooking your sweet potatoes without peeling them first.

They contain high amounts of vitamin C and B

Sweet potatoes are high in numerous vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C which protects cells and maintains healthy skin, bones and cartilage.³ This root veg is also a rich source of some B vitamins such as vitamin B6 which makes haemoglobin and allows the body to turn carbs and protein into energy.⁴

Should anyone avoid eating sweet potatoes?

Due to sweet potatoes nutritional benefits, it tends to be a safe vegetable for everyone to consume.

How to prepare sweet potatoes in a healthy way

There are countless ways to prep these veggies, from roasting them up in the oven with some spices to making them into a mouth-watering mash. Here we take a look at a few healthy ways to eat sweet potatoes on a regular basis:

1. Turn them into mash

Boiling up and mashing your sweet potatoes is one of the healthiest ways to eat them as you won’t need to add any oil. For extra flavour, consider shaking in a little cumin or a pinch of ground nutmeg.

2. Make a sweet potato salad

If you love potato salad yet don’t want the carbs which come with regular potatoes, consider making one with sweet potatoes instead. Why not swap regular mayonnaise for avocado oil mayo for an even healthier kick?

3. Eat them as jacket potatoes

This healthy treat allows you to keep the skin of your sweet potatoes on so you can reap the benefits of all of its antioxidants. Wrap your sweet potatoes in foil and bake them in the oven for about 45 minutes or until soft in the middle. You could then fill them with some houmous, tomato salad or even a generous dollop of homemade guacamole. Remember to always wash your sweet potatoes if you’re going to eat them with the skin on and slice off any tubers or bits which look bruised or dirty. For other ingredients to help you prep your sweet potatoes, have a look at our cooking range. Want more tips on which foods are the best for maintaining a healthy and happy body? Check out the rest of our nutrition guides over on The Health Hub. Last updated: 16 June 2020 Sources 1 https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/sweet-potato-benefits 2 https://www.nutrition.org.uk/nutritionscience/nutrients-food-and-ingredients/dietary-fibre.html 3 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-c/ 4 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-b/