Known for its delicious taste, the sweet potato is a dicotyledonous plant that belongs to the family of Convolvulaceae. It is a starchy tuberous root that can be eaten as a vegetable or as a green.
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Vitamin A
During pregnancy, breastfeeding, and pregnancy it is important to eat vitamin A in sweet potatoes to keep the baby healthy. Vitamin A promotes the development of the baby’s bones and eyes and can be used to treat cataracts and night blindness. It also helps to strengthen the immune system and improves vision.
Sweet potatoes are used as a staple food in Mozambique. They are a rich source of vitamins. They are low in fat and contain a lot of beta-carotene. Vitamin A is essential for healthy cell growth, immune system, and skin health. In Africa, a lot of vitamin A deficiency has been reported. However, it is unclear how much vitamin A deficiency occurs in different regions of the world.
Potassium
Besides being a good source of potassium, sweet potatoes are also a good source of vitamin A, folic acid, copper, iron, and magnesium. These vitamins are important in maintaining healthy skin, teeth, and bones. These nutrients also help to maintain the integrity of cells and regulate blood pressure. They also help to improve the immune system.
Potassium is important for maintaining the balance of fluids in the body. It helps to regulate blood pressure and protects the heart from cardiovascular problems. The antioxidant properties of potassium also help to prevent heart disease and arthritis.
Beta-carotene is an important component in sweet potatoes, and the darker varieties contain more beta-carotene than lighter ones. Beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A after consumption. Vitamin A is important for eye and skin health. It also helps to fight free radicals, which contribute to the development of cancer.
Beta carotene
Having a high concentration of beta carotene in sweet potatoes is believed to increase the immune system and promote healthy skin of the body. Moreover, it helps in controlling inflammation and free radicals, which accelerate aging. It also enhances eyesight and fights against cancer.
Several studies have shown that the orange-fleshed sweet potato is a good source of b-carotene. This is because the orange color of the sweet potato’s flesh is correlated with the total carotenoid content.
Sweet potatoes are very high in vitamins A and C. Vitamin A helps in protecting the skin from the harmful rays of the sun. It is also necessary for the growth of the body. In addition, it prevents the degeneration of the eyes, strengthens the immune system, and helps to fight infections. Moreover, it helps in healing colds and congestion of the lungs.
Choline
Among the many health benefits of eating sweet potatoes is its ability to reduce chronic inflammation. This is due to the presence of magnesium, a mineral that plays an important role in promoting relaxation, calmness and reduction of stress.
Another benefit of eating sweet potatoes is the high content of potassium. This mineral is important for brain health and relaxation. However, excessive consumption of sweet potatoes is linked to potassium toxicity, which can lead to rashes and headaches.
In addition to choline, sweet potatoes also contain magnesium, manganese, vitamin C and fiber. These nutrients work together to improve blood sugar regulation and nerve impulse transmission. They also improve digestion and reduce chronic inflammation.
Antioxidants
Various antioxidants are present in sweet potato. They have been shown to be useful in preventing diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. They also possess anti-inflammatory properties. They reduce oxidative stress, which may promote normal cell proliferation and delay the growth of cancer cells. They also help in preventing intestinal inflammation.
The antioxidant capacity of sweet potatoes was evaluated by two in vitro systems. Antioxidant activities ranged from 0.09 to 10 mg/ml. The total phenolic content of the sweet potato was evaluated by using the method of Xu and Chang. It was expressed as milligrams of gallic acid equivalents.
The phenolic content was positively correlated with the antioxidant capacity of sweet potato. The results showed that orange sweet potato exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity.
Type 2 diabetes
Despite the fact that sweet potatoes have a high content of vitamins and minerals, there are not enough studies to support the use of sweet potatoes for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Therefore, further observational trials are needed to establish whether sweet potatoes can improve metabolic control of blood glucose levels in patients with T2DM.
Sweet potato is high in dietary fiber, which contributes to its blood glucose-lowering activity. In addition, the presence of bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, anthocyanins, and phenolic compounds may have positive impacts on health.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were carried out to determine the effects of sweet potato preparations on glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The RCTs included 140 participants in total. They were recruited from outpatient clinics in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.
