Sweet potatoes are common foods eaten by many on a daily basis; they are loaded with many important minerals, vitamins, and other important phytochemicals.

Potatoes are rich in proteins, calories, very little fat, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins A, B6, C, magnesium, manganese, potassium, copper, and many other important nutrients needed for optimum growth and development of the body.

Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamin A, they are one of the richest sources of vitamin A; there are many varieties of sweet potatoes, they come in yellow, orange, pink white and purple colors.

They help one gain weight, they regulate healthy digestion of foods, they treat diabetes, ulcers, arthritis, and they boost the immune system and many other functions they carry out in the body.

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We will be taking a look at some important health impacts of potatoes on the body.

Health Benefits of Sweet Potatoes

1. They are rich in antioxidants

Sweet potatoes are rich in antioxidants, and these are responsible for their color; when taken regularly, they supply the body with powerful antioxidants and this helps in keeping one youthful and healthy and it also keeps diseases and chronic diseases at bay.

They contain a rich amount of beta-carotene than even green-leafy vegetables; the orange-colored sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene, the purple-colored ones are rich in the antioxidant anthocyanin, they also contain cyanidins and peonidins in their starchy core.

2. They are rich in anti-inflammatory compounds

These powerful tubers are rich in many anti-inflammatory compounds and this helps in fighting the root cause of most diseases and symptoms; they inhibit compounds that play key roles in the development of inflammation.

Their phytonutrients have an impact on fibrinogen; this is a key glycoprotein that is used in blood clotting, it combines with thrombin, a coagulation factor to become fibrin which helps in the process of blood clotting.

Fibrin helps to hasten healing of wounds, it closes wounds and prevents loss of blood; also an excess of fibrinogen and fibrin in the body can trigger inflammation. This can lead to diseases like multiple sclerosis.

Regular intake of sweet potatoes reduces inflammation and maintains the normal levels of fibrinogen and fibrin in the body.

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3. They aid weight gain

This tuber is rich in complex starch, proteins, minerals, and vitamins; the complex starches are easily digested by the body and they increase the amount of energy in the body and add to muscle mass for body builders.

They also help in weight loss; they are rich in fiber which makes one feel full for a long time and reduce the intake of foods. They also reduce cravings; people go on a potato diet to help them cut stubborn ponds off their weight.

4. They support healthy vision

These powerful tubers are rich in vitamin A; there also contain rich amount of beta-carotene which is also converted to vitamin A in the body, they protect the eyes from oxidative damage and keep eye problems and diseases at bay.

They prevent night blindness, eye dryness; they prevent a buildup of keratin on the conjunctiva, regular intake of sweet potatoes guides against total loss of vision.

Its rich content of beta-carotene slows the progression of macular degeneration which occurs when one age; this can result in loss of vision, one medium-sized sweet potato daily is enough to meet your daily need for vitamin A.

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5. They boost the immune system

Potatoes are rich in many essential nutrients and phytochemicals that aid the production of new white blood cells and other immune cells that fight microbes and infections.

They help the body kill harmful microbes; they also kill off harmful cells that can lead to cancers and tumors, they prevent cell damage caused by mutation and oxidative damage.

6. They boost healthy functions of the brain

Potatoes maintain a healthy brain and boost its functions; it improves memory and enhances cognitive functions, this is because of its wonderful collections of powerful nutrients and phytochemicals.

They prevent oxidative damage done to the brain by free radicals; it fights brain aging, it improves spatial learning and focus or concentration, and it boosts the overall health of the brain and enhances its functions.

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7. They normalize the levels of blood sugar

These tubers help those with diabetes and hyperglycemia; it brings down the levels of high concentrations of sugar, it improves insulin sensitivity and slows the rate at which the body absorbs sugar.

8. They treat respiratory problems

Sweet potatoes are beneficial to people with respiratory problems; they help relieve bronchitis and are effective in treating asthma, they clear congestion in the nose, lungs, and bronchi thereby relieving asthma.

The aroma of sweet potatoes alone brings relief to asthmatic patients; they have a warm effect on the body and this helps it relieve congestion in people with bronchitis.

They are also rich in iron, vitamin C, and other important nutrients that treat bronchitis and cure it.

9. They treat stomach ulcers

Sweet potatoes sooth the stomach, intestine and the general digestive system; they have compounds and nutrients that cure stomach ulcers; they protect the lining of the stomach and intestines.

The fiber contained in potatoes boosts proper digestion of food; they prevent constipation and indigestion; they reduce the formation of stomach acid and reduce the pain and inflammation of the ulcers.

Their rich content of magnesium ensures the proper digestion of foods and keeps digestive problems at bay; they are also easy to digest.

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10. They treat arthritis and cancer

The nutrients present in sweet potatoes like beta-carotene, vitamin B complex, zinc and magnesium help in relieving the symptoms of arthritis; the water used in boiling potatoes is applied topically to joints and muscles to ease the arthritis pain and inflammation.

A powerful antioxidant present in potatoes is a strong anti-carcinogenic compound; they also contain a good amount of vitamin C which combines with beta-carotene to boost the immune system and fight off cancer and other cell damage.

They have been successfully used to treat cancers of the kidneys, colon, prostate, intestines and other organs of the body.