Most of us are familiar with orange sweet potatoes or yams, but there is another variety of sweet potatoes, the white sweet potato (not the white-fleshed sweet potato), which is considered to be more nutritious compared to the orange or red variety.
In fact, sweet potatoes are available in a number of colors and their skin may be white, yellow, red, brown, or purple, while the color of their flesh can be white, yellow, orange or even purple. Nevertheless, only two varieties of sweet potatoes are available in the United States. While one comes with a golden skin and white creamy flesh and with a crumbly texture. The second variety of sweet potato has a copper hued skin, an orange flesh which is soft and sweet and soft.
Most people in the United States consume the second variety of sweet potato mentioned above. Generally, the shape and size of all types of sweet potatoes are the same - their ends are tapered and are smaller compared to yams.
Among the different varieties of sweet potatoes, the purple ones are considered to be the most nutritious as they contain maximum antioxidants. On the other hand, the sweet potatoes with white flesh contain the least amount of nutrients; Livestrong reported quoting a study published in Food Chemistry in 2007. Unfortunately, the purple variety of sweet potatoes is not easily available in the United States. However, compared to the white sweet potato, the orange variety is more nutritious, as it contains nutrients like beta-carotene, which is converted in vitamin A inside our body.
Sweet potatoes are highly beneficial for our health. The usual potatoes have a higher glycemic index (GI), which raise the blood sugar levels rapidly. On the other hand, a medium-sized common potato supplies us with 169 calories, compared to just 112 calories provided by sweet potatoes, Honestly Health Foods suggested.
Sweet potatoes are also effective for cleansing the skin. A serving of one cup of sweet potato supplies us with 214 percent of our daily recommended intake for vitamin A in addition to 52 percent of the recommended intake of vitamin C. Both these vitamins are essential for glowing, youthful skin and also help to retard the aging process of the skin.
At the same time, sweet potatoes contain a hormone adiponectin, which helps to burn fat and boosts metabolism. It has been found that consuming roasted sweet potato also helps one to feel full and, thereby, reduce our craving for food. Vitamin B6 found in sweet potatoes help to prevent nausea, thereby proving to be a great food to overcome hangover.
