Most people may not have heard the term ‘Ipomoea Batatas’ but will surely know it by its common name “sweet potato”. It is loved by everyone and usually eaten in winter as a dessert ingredient. Sweet potatoes not only contain many nutrients but are also full of medicinal benefits. Scientists have found that sweet potatoes contain anti-inflammatory,  antidiabetic and anticancer properties which make them one of the most beneficial vegetables. Most of the sweet potatoes are orange in colour but they also come in other colours like purple, yellow, white, pink and red.

In this article, we will tell you about the health benefits of Ipomoea Batatas/sweet potatoes so that the consumption of sweet potatoes can be helpful to your health as well.

About Ipomoea Batatas

Ipomoea Batatas are commonly known by the name sweet potatoes to people. They are nutritious and delicious root vegetables that are creamy and soft enough. Most people eat it as a dessert ingredient and use it as an ingredient in several pie recipes. According to researchers, it is found that sweet potatoes are the best source of vitamin A. Sweet potatoes are also a good source of vitamin B5, riboflavin, niacin, thiamin and carotenoids because of their orange colour.

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Health benefits of Ipomoea Batatas

Besides having good taste, the following are some of the health benefits that you can gain from eating sweet potatoes in your regular diet:

  • Prevent Deficiency of Vitamin A

The deficiency of Vitamin A is a serious issue as its health results are serious and can include decreased resistance to infectious diseases and an increase in infectious morbidity. Deficiency of Vitamin A can also cause dry eyes and increased mortality for both pregnant and lactating women and their children. Sweet potatoes are an important source of vitamin A as they contain high levels of beta carotene which is transformed into vitamin A in our livers. So, with each molecule of Beta carotene, they produced two molecules of Vitamin A and that’s how sweet potatoes prevent the deficiency of vitamin A.

  • Manages Diabetes

Sweet potatoes are rated as low to high on the glycemic index scale and according to research, they can minimise the occurrence of insulin resistance and low blood sugar levels and high blood sugar levels in people who are suffering from diabetes. Sunanda word sweet potatoes contain essential fibres and magnesium which are important for the prevention and management of diabetes.

  • Manages Stress Levels

Sweet potatoes contain a significant amount of magnesium which is proven beneficial in reducing stress and anxiety. Magnesium deficiency can increase in case of depression. Sweet potato can recover the body’s magnesium levels and help reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety-related behaviours in individuals.

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  • Anti-inflammatory activity

Sweet potatoes contain vitamins that show powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally, sweet potatoes have a high concentration of choline which is an important nutrient. Choline is beneficial for reducing the inflammatory response in the body resulting in less inflammation. Further studies show that purple sweet potatoes contain anthocyanins which are known for reducing and preventing inflammation in colon cancer cells. Thus, the presence of anthocyanins and choline makes sweet potatoes an essential and beneficial dietary source for the body.

  • Helpful in preventing cancer

Study shows that purple-fleshed sweet potato is effective in fighting against cancer. Sweet potatoes contain beta carotene which is essential in protecting men from developing prostate cancer. Furthermore, it is also beneficial in other ways as the extracts from different parts of sweet potatoes have been proven to accelerate the death of breast, gastric, colorectal and prostate cancers and also limit the growth and spread of these cancers.

  • Protect against ulcer

An ulcer happens when an inflamed tissue is shed from the mucous membrane or the skin and it can be quite painful but sweet potatoes are proved to be helpful in the treatment and management of peptic ulcers. Furthermore, study shows that extracts from sweet potatoes have chemicals that can help heal wounds and ulcers in the stomach. So sweet potatoes are proven to be effective in treatment against various types of ulcers including ethanol and aspirin-induced ulcers.

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The Final words

Ipomoea Batatas Or Sweet potatoes are not only popular for their taste but their consumption in your regular diet will also help you fight or prevent many diseases. Besides having the above-mentioned health benefits of sweet potatoes, there are a lot more. Ipomoea Batatas provide important nutrients like protein, vitamin, calcium, magnesium and folic acid so it is beneficial to your body in different ways.