By Jean Sumner
Sweet potatoes are extremely nutritious along with being very tasty, inexpensive and readily available. They are high in vitamin B6 and vitamin C. B6 reduces the chemical homocysteine in our bodies which has been linked to degenerative disease including heart disease. As we all know, vitamin C is associated with helping us to avoid flu and colds. It is also important 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.
Sweet potatoes also contain vitamin D which is important for a strong immune system. Normally we think of getting vitamin D from sunshine but now you know you can get it from sweet potatoes. Vitamin D also 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.
These great tasting potatoes also contain iron which is important for adequate energy, red and white blood cell production, resistance to stress, proper immune functioning, and the metabolizing of protein.
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. They are also high in potassium which helps regulate heartbeat and nerve signals, relax muscle contractions, reduce swelling, and protect and control the activity of the kidneys.
Their rich orange color indicates that they are high in carotenoids like beta carotene. Carotenoids help strengthen our eyesight and boost our immunity to disease.
So don’t forget to eat your sweet potatoes!