What are the benefits of eating sweet potatoes? A nutritionist explains in detail whether they are better than purple sweet potatoes

Sweet potato, also known as digua, red taro, fanshu and so on, is a fairly common vegetable. Because both its leaves and its tubers can be eaten, and because it has effects such as protecting the heart, aiding weight loss and fighting cancer, it is deeply loved by people. So what are the benefits of eating sweet potatoes? Which is better, sweet potato or purple sweet potato? See what the nutritionist says!

1. What are the benefits of eating purple sweet potatoes?

1. Delaying aging: Purple sweet potatoes have an antioxidant effect, and a good one at that. Eating them regularly can help improve the skin, regulate the endocrine system and also delay aging.

2. Promoting digestion: Purple sweet potatoes contain a large amount of fiber, which helps clear waste from the intestines, promotes gastrointestinal motility and aids bowel movements. People with constipation can eat a little purple sweet potato to make their stools pass more smoothly, and it can also prevent some digestive tract diseases.

3. Fighting cancer and enriching the blood: Purple sweet potatoes are rich in iron and selenium. Iron helps the body enrich the blood, while selenium has a certain anti-fatigue and anti-cancer effect. Selenium can help clear free radicals from the human body, and can also inhibit the formation, division and growth of cancer cells, so it has a certain effect against cancer.

4. Protecting the liver and reducing internal heat: Purple sweet potatoes are also good for the liver and have the effect of reducing liver fire. Men who usually like smoking and drinking and have an impatient personality can eat some purple sweet potatoes, which is good for their health.

2. What are the benefits of eating sweet potatoes?

1. Weight loss: Sweet potatoes are very low in fat, and eating them increases the feeling of fullness. Using sweet potatoes as a staple food can help reduce the intake of other foods. Sweet potatoes also promote bowel movements, which helps with weight loss.

2. Stabilizing blood pressure: Sweet potatoes are rich in potassium, which can help reduce the risk of stroke and high blood pressure. People with high blood pressure can eat a little sweet potato, which helps stabilize blood pressure.

3. Good for the heart: Sweet potatoes contain a variety of components that help prevent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, such as carotene, folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin C, among others, and are very good for maintaining heart function and preventing arteriosclerosis.

4. Controlling blood sugar: Sweet potatoes are low in sugar, and white-skinned sweet potatoes in particular have a certain anti-diabetic effect. One study showed that after type 2 diabetes patients took an extract of white-skinned sweet potatoes, their insulin sensitivity improved, which helped control blood sugar.

3. Which is better, sweet potato or purple sweet potato?

In terms of nutritional value, purple sweet potatoes should come out slightly ahead, because purple sweet potatoes contain “anthocyanins” that sweet potatoes do not have. This anthocyanin component has an anti-aging effect and can fight free radicals. Free radicals are one of the main culprits behind oxidative damage to human cells. In addition, sweet potatoes have less selenium than purple sweet potatoes, and purple sweet potatoes are better than sweet potatoes at helping the human body boost immunity, so purple sweet potatoes may also have a better anti-cancer effect.

In addition, most of the nutrients contained in sweet potatoes can also be found in purple sweet potatoes, so purple sweet potatoes actually have all the various effects of sweet potatoes too. But everyone should still note that whether it is purple sweet potatoes or sweet potatoes, attention must be paid to how they are eaten. For example, it is best not to eat too many or eat them raw, as this can easily cause indigestion or a feeling of bloating and nausea. In addition, purple sweet potatoes may contain some allergenic components, so people who are prone to allergies should be on guard.

4. What is the difference between purple sweet potatoes and sweet potatoes?

1. Taste

Sweet potato: Sweet potato is less sweet than purple sweet potato, and after steaming it has a higher water content and a softer, looser texture.

Purple sweet potato: Purple sweet potato tastes sweeter and has a more starchy texture than sweet potato, making it more pleasant to eat.

2. Nutrition

Sweet potato: Sweet potato has a higher starch content, and higher levels of vitamin A and carotene. Its fiber content is similar to that of purple sweet potato, only 0.1% lower.

Purple sweet potato: Purple sweet potato has higher levels of the trace elements selenium, zinc, potassium and iron, and also contains anthocyanins that do not exist in sweet potato. Its starch content is lower than that of sweet potato.

3. Effects

Sweet potato: Sweet potato leans more toward the effects of promoting bowel movements, moistening the intestines and protecting the eyes.

Purple sweet potato: Purple sweet potato leans more toward supplementing trace elements and selenium, and also has the antioxidant effect of anthocyanins.

4. Growing

Sweet potato: Sweet potato has strong resistance, so it is easy to plant and grows relatively easily.

Purple sweet potato: Purple sweet potato has certain requirements for the soil, which needs a certain selenium content, and it is more difficult to grow.

5. Price

Sweet potato: Sweet potato has high yields and is easy to plant, so its price is relatively cheap.

Purple sweet potato: Purple sweet potato has requirements for production conditions and its yields are relatively low, so its price is higher.