Sweet Potatoes

The intensity of the sweet potato's yellow or orange flesh color is directly correlated to its beta-carotene content. The darker varieties also consist of higher concentration of beta-carotene compare to others. The beta-carotene in orange-fleshed sweet potato, is used by our bodies to produce vitamin A, has been reported to be more bioavailable than that from dark green leafy vegetables. Purple-fleshed sweet potatoes, on the other hand, are a good source of anthocyanins and have the highest antioxidant activity among sweet potato varieties. Anthocyanins are present in every fruit and vegetable that has color. In addition, Anthocyanins are the phytochemicals responsible for changing the colors of the leaves or fruits from green to fiery red, orange, purple, yellow and more.

Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of vitamin A. They are also a very good source of vitamin C and manganese, copper, dietary fiber, vitamin B6, potassium and iron. The antioxidant activity in purple sweet potato was 3.2 times higher than that of a blueberry variety! Interestingly, the antioxidant activity in sweet potato skin, regardless of its color, is almost three times higher than in the rest of the tissue. Regular consumption of sweet potatoes strengthens the body's immune system and develops resistance to infection. The presence of beta-carotene in sweet potato also helps the body fight against free radicals and thus, prevents cancer. The high amount of potassium in sweet potato also helps the body in maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance as well as lowering of blood pressure.

 

How to Enjoy
Sweet Potatoes natural sweetness makes them the perfect ingredient for all classifications of dishes. Here’s a quick and easy recipe suggestion to prepare an aromatic chicken dish using Worldfoods® Thai Galangal Lemon Grass Stir Fry Sauce.

Recipe suggestion: Sweet Potato Chicken
> Click here for this recipe

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