Thursday, June 25, 2009

Sweet potato


Between food ranking systems, we can know that sweet potato was showed to be a strong performer in terms of traditional nutrients. The roots of sweet potato are storage proteins that have significant antioxidant capacities. In one study showed that one-third the antioxidant activity of glutathione had inside these proteins. Below figure will show that sweet potato has lots of nutrients.



There is an excellent source of vitamin A in form of beta-carotene and vitamin C in sweet potato. Therefore, it has healing properties as an antioxidant food. In our body, beta-carotene is for vision, immune system, and skin and bone health. Free radicals that work in the body are eliminated by both. Vitamin C is associates with an increase in blood levels of good cholesterol. It also is a good source of vitamin B6 which homocysteine is converted by it. Several studies have found: “The concentration of homocysteine is lowered by higher blood levels of vitamin B6 (What is homocysteine?, N.D.).

Sweet potato is good source of manganese which is a cofactor for enzymes involved in hydrolysis, phosphorylation, decarboxylation and transamination. Sweet potato is also a substantial dietary fiber especially when eaten with skin to promote a healthy digestive tract. Moreover, the fluid and electrolyte balance in the body cells as well as normal heart function, nerve function and blood pressure are maintained by the potassium. Iron and copper also can found in the sweet potato which is essential to immunity as they aid in the maturation, function and activation of defense mechanisms (The nutritional value of Sweet Potatoes! , N.D. ).





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