These Sweet Potato Recipes Are Making Us So Excited for Fall (2024)

FAQs

Why do sweet potatoes make me feel good? ›

Since sweet potatoes are rich in nutrients and fiber, they help your body process the carbohydrates slowly, thus releasing the sweet more slowly but still providing that happy effect.

The sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is a dicotyledonous plant that belongs to the bindweed or morning glory family, Convolvulaceae. Its large, starchy, sweet-tasting tuberous roots are used as a root vegetable. The young shoots and leaves are sometimes eaten as greens.

Sweet potato is one of the most economically important crops for addressing global food security and climate change issues, especially under conditions of extensive agriculture, such as those found in developing countries.

It is unknown how sweet potato began to be cultivated in the Pacific, but the current scholarly consensus is that the presence of sweet potato in Polynesia is evidence of Polynesian contact with South America.

If you enjoy sweet potatoes, you can absolutely enjoy them daily. However, eating multiple sweet potatoes every day could cause a harmless condition called carotenodermia, where your skin turns yellow-orange. You may also want to be cautious about your sweet potato intake if you have a history of kidney stones.

Potatoes power up feel-good serotonin.

And researchers may have figured out why: Potatoes boast rich stores of tryptophan and potassium — nutrients your brain and digestive tract use to produce the mood-steadying hormone serotonin. Tip: Keeping the skins on your spuds will give you the biggest potassium boost.

Sweet potatoes with orange flesh are richest in beta-carotene. Sweet potatoes with purple flesh are richer in anthocyanins. Beta-carotene and anthocyanins are naturally occurring plant “phyto” chemicals that give vegetables their bright colors.

Answer. Sweet potatoes are considered a starchy vegetable, but they are also a great source of nutrition. Starchy vegetables are usually higher in calories than non-starchy vegetables which have higher water contents and fewer calories (cucumber, lettuce, peppers, etc.).

Carbohydrates. Potatoes and sweet potatoes are considered starchy vegetables given their high-carb content, which provides an energy boost. Potassium. Fun fact: Potatoes and sweet potatoes contain more potassium than a banana.

Native Americans were already growing sweet potatoes when Columbus arrived on America's shores in 1492. The sweet potato is not a potato, not even a distant cousin. Potatoes are tubers; sweet potatoes are roots. Sweet potatoes have been growing in the South since as early as 1648.

What is the positive effect of sweet potato? ›

Sweet potatoes are rich in dietary fibers and are also known for improving gut health and digestion. The high fiber content in sweet potatoes can also help in preventing constipation in both children and adults. It also contains a high amount of phytosterol that has a protective effect on the digestive system.

They're high in fiber and antioxidants, which protect your body from free radical damage and promote a healthy gut and brain. They're also incredibly rich in beta carotene, which is converted to vitamin A to support good vision and your immune system.

In some cultures, the plant's resilience and productivity may symbolize abundance and nourishment, reflecting the plant's generous yield and nutritional benefits.

Just one sweet potato gives you 102% of the vitamin A you need each day. This helps keep your eyes healthy as well as your immune system, your body's defense against germs. It's also good for your reproductive system and organs like your heart and kidneys.

China is the world's biggest producer and consumer of sweetpotato, where it is used for food, animal feed, and processing (as food, starch, and other products).

Potatoes are abundant in potassium, says the National Institutes of Health, a mineral that supports your nerves, muscles, kidneys and heart. Potassium also plays a key role in regulating blood pressure.

So, if you're craving sweet potatoes your body may be saying it needs more nutrients. Think vitamin C, A, B, and E, potassium, and manganese — this orange vegetable is abundant in nutrients, shares Healthline.

Sweet potatoes are rich in the antioxidant beta-carotene, D'Ambrosio says. This helps in reducing damage to the brain cells, which can have a negative impact on mental health. It can also be helpful in reducing the oxidative stress on DNA, which has been linked with depression, anxiety and schizophrenia, she adds.

"Sweet potatoes are a good source of complex carbohydrates, which can increase serotonin levels in the brain leading to improved mood and promoting feelings of relaxation," says Shapiro, who adds that sweet potatoes also contain fiber to help stabilize blood sugar levels.