Dr. Jacome's Healthy Eating Tips: The Sweet Potato Is Sweet On Nutrition

Dr. Enrique Jacome MD

According to nutritionists at the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), the single most important dietary change for most people, including children, would be to replace fatty foods with foods rich in complex carbohydrates, such as sweet potatoes.
CSPI ranked the sweet potato number one in nutrition of all vegetables. With a score of 184, the sweet potato outscored the next highest vegetable by more than 100 points. Points were given for content of dietary fiber, naturally occurring sugars and complex carbohydrates, protein, vitamins A and C, iron and calcium. 

CSPI Rankings: Sweet potato baked 184 Potato, baked 83 Spinach 76 Kale 55 Mixed Vegetables 52 Broccoli 52 Winter Squash, Baked 44 Brussels Sprouts 37 Cabbage, Raw 34 Green Peas 33 Carrot 30 Okra 30 Corn on the Cob 27 Tomato 27 Green Pepper 26 Cauliflower 25 Artichoke 24 Romaine Lettuce 24 The Center for Science in the Public Interest, Washington D.C. copyright 1992

The reasons the sweet potato took first place? Dietary fiber, naturally occurring sugars, complex carbohydrates, protein, vitamins A and C, iron and calcium. The sweet potato received a score of 184; the vegetable ranked in second place was more than 100 points behind with a score of 83.

Sweet potatoes are high in the following: beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin B6 and vitamin C; fiber, thiamine, niacin, potassium and copper. They are also a good source of protein, calcium, vitamin E.

The numbers for the nutritional sweet potato speak for themselves: almost twice the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A, 42 percent of the recommendation for vitamin C, four times the RDA for beta carotene, and, when eaten with the skin, sweet potatoes have more fiber than oatmeal. All these benefits with only about 130 to 160 calories!

Sweet Potato Nutrition Facts  (for one medium size sweet potato)

Calories 130 Fat 0.39 g Protein 2.15 g Net Carbs 31.56 g Dietary Fiber 3.9 g Calcium 28.6 mg Sodium 16.9 mg Potassium 265.2 mg Folate 18.2 mcg Vitamin C 29.51 mg Vitamin A 26081.9 IU Source: US Department of Agriculture

Among root vegetables, sweet potatoes offer the lowest glycemic index rating. That’s because the sweet potato digests slowly, causing a gradual rise in blood sugar so you feel satisfied longer. It’s time to move sweet potatoes to the "good" carb list. 


Here is a fantastic sweet potato recipe: http://bit.ly/oEvaQh

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