Why You Should Be Eating More Sweet Potatoes

The last few years have witnessed a mass-conversion of potato lovers to sweet-potato lovers. From fries to the mashed varieties, the orange root vegetable has seemingly taken hold across the board. When it comes to our health, this is a very good thing.

One of the most notable benefits of eating sweet potatoes comes from their high concentration of magnesium. Combined with its other nutrients, this mineral may aid in neutralizing damage done by eating less-healthy foods, as Women's Health suggests. Having enough magnesium allows the body to metabolize carbohydrates and stabilize your appetite —something incredibly helpful when having enough energy throughout the day. 

Plus, sweet potatoes are chock-full of Vitamin A, a mineral that has been hailed as the anti-aging holy grail, Women's Health explains. An ingredient that many skin creams contain, Vitamin A is a powerful antioxidant, and sweet potatoes contain nearly 100 percent of the recommended daily intake. Allison Knott, MS, RDN, CSSD, explains to Real Simple, "Vitamin A is considered to be a nutrient of concern per the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, meaning most Americans aren't eating enough of it. It's important to get vitamin A from food, however, since high intakes in the form of supplements can be toxic."

With extremely high fiber content, sweet potatoes can help keep your digestive system on track while keeping you fuller for longer, Real Simple asserts. Furthermore, their fiber content helps lower cholesterol as well. Eat your potatoes with the skin for an extra fibrous boost!

On top of aiding your digestive system, Women's Health notes that sweet potatoes' high nutrient density and levels of potassium can lower blood pressure levels. The high potassium content also contributes to the root vegetable's ability to offset stress as well, Women's Health explains, and thus gives you an even better reason to reach for the sweet potato fries. 

Sweet potatoes do have more grams of sugar than regular potatoes, but that doesn't mean it's a bad thing. These sugars are actually complex carbohydrates that provide sustainable levels of energy for hours, according to Real Simple. Natalie Rizzo, MS, RD, tells the outlet, "Sweet potatoes are a source of complex carbohydrates, which means they take longer to digest than simple carbs, such as white breads, white rice, etc. They provide long-lasting energy."

Whether you eat them plain, chopped, or even add them to a salad, sweet potatoes are an incredibly healthy food that provides large amounts of the nutrients that the body needs.