{"id":268,"date":"2019-06-10T11:32:22","date_gmt":"2019-06-10T18:32:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.csun.edu\/nutritionexperts\/?p=268"},"modified":"2019-10-01T15:22:27","modified_gmt":"2019-10-01T22:22:27","slug":"the-sweet-facts-about-sweet-potatoes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.csun.edu\/nutritionexperts\/2019\/06\/10\/the-sweet-facts-about-sweet-potatoes\/","title":{"rendered":"The Sweet Facts About Sweet Potatoes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By: Talia Bondelli, DTR <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Raw
Image: Africa Studio\/Shutterstock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What\ndoes it mean to eat the rainbow? Eating the rainbow signifies eating a variety of\nfruits and vegetables.1<\/sup> All of the colors of fruits and vegetables\nhave different health benefits that may reduce your risk of diseases.2  <\/sup>Sweet potatoes have a deep orange\ncolor, which is the pigment called beta-carotene.3<\/sup> They are very\nnutritious and they are also fat free, which means they also have no saturated\nfat or trans-fat.4 <\/sup>Furthermore, they are low in calories and sodium,\nwith about 100 calories and 70 milligrams of sodium for one medium sweet\npotato.4<\/sup> Sweet potatoes can definitely sweeten up your life, and in\na healthy way! <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Health Benefits of Sweet Potatoes <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Vitamin C<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sweet potatoes contain vitamin C, which is necessary for healthy skin, fighting infections, and wound healing.5,6,7<\/sup> It also helps our body absorb iron, which is important if you\u2019re anemic.8<\/sup> It is recommended to eat Vitamin C rich foods with iron rich foods like beans, lentils, chicken, or dark leafy greens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vitamin A<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vitamin\nA is important for good vision and preventing infections.9,10 <\/sup>Beta-carotene\nis deep orange pigment found in vegetables and fruits, which our bodies turn\ninto vitamin A.11,12<\/sup> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fiber<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is recommended to have 25 grams of fiber a day in order to be healthy based on a 2,000 calorie diet.13 <\/sup>A medium sweet potato can help you meet your needs as it has about 3.8 grams!14 <\/sup>Fiber is part of our food that we can\u2019t digest and can help with constipation.15 <\/sup>Fiber can also reduce risk of cardiovascular disease by lowering LDL, the bad cholesterol.16<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Potassium<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Potassium is another mineral that can be found in sweet potatoes.4 <\/sup>This mineral is important because it works in balance with sodium to maintain blood pressure and keep your heart healthy.17  <\/sup>You may need to limit your potassium if you have kidney problems, but be sure to check with your doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Magnesium<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A sweet potato is a great source of magnesium.2<\/sup> Magnesium is known to calm the brain.18 <\/sup>Magnesium deficiency has been linked to depression, mood disturbances, and headaches. 19<\/sup> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

An\nadded bonus is that sweet potatoes will stay fresh for 3-5 weeks as long as you\nstore them in a dark, cool place, such as your kitchen pantry.4 <\/sup>Remember\nto always talk to your doctor before implementing something new in your diet if\nyou have any health problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My Favorite Sweet Potato Recipe:
Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Honey and Cinnamon <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Author: Tyler Florence20<\/sup>                              <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ingredients:<\/p>\n\n\n\n