Tending to appear in abundance during the holiday season, the humble sweet potato is a flavorful root vegetable that makes an excellent addition to your diet. Aside from being delicious, this fresh vegetable provides a variety of significant health benefits. Here are five reasons to pick some up the next time you’re at the grocery store.

Why Eat More Sweet Potatoes?

1. Provides Antioxidants

This fresh vegetable is a nutritional powerhouse. It’s rich in vitamins A, B6, and C, along with copper, potassium, and phosphorus. It also contains sporamins, which are proteins developed during storage that provide further defense against free radicals.

2. Helps With Weight Loss

You can include this root vegetable into a low-calorie diet and enjoy a filling dish every day. A single medium-sized piece contains 180 calories and 0.3 grams of fat, along with just over four grams of protein and four grams of fiber. Protein fills you up and satiates your appetite for longer periods, preventing you from snacking in between meals.

3. Is Easy to Prepare

They are also perfect for cooks who like to create variety. There are many ways to prepare them. You can bake them for a sweeter version of a jacket potato, mash them for a tasty side, slice them for your toast, or even make sweet potato fries.

4. Safe for Diverse Diets

For people who have diabetes or take part in diets low in carbohydrates, sweet potatoes make healthier substitutes to standard white potatoes.

A single sweet potato contains about 28 grams of complex carbohydrates. People consuming up to 50 grams of carbs a day can make it an occasional part of their ketogenic diet, while individuals who consume closer to 100 grams can add it to a low-carb, high-fat (LCHF) plan.

5. Promotes Healthy Eyesight

These potatoes owe their rich orange hue to carotenoids, a type of antioxidant found in the eye. The powerful pigment has been shown to play a role in reducing the risk of eye disease. The tuber vegetable also contains beta-carotene, which the body naturally converts into vitamin A. This vital nutrient can minimize dry eye symptoms and may even prevent optical infections.
 

You’ll find an outstanding selection of fresh vegetables at Cranberry Country Market in Tomah, WI. This grocery store is proud to provide locals with only the most delicious produce, organic foods, deli meat, cheese, and vitamins and supplements. You can visit them online to learn more about their products, or give them a call at (608) 374-4944 to ask what they have in stock.