Sweet potatoes are sweet, starchy root vegetables that are grown worldwide. They come in a variety of sizes and colors — including orange, white, and purple and are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. Not to mention, they provide a number of health benefits and are easy to add to your diet.

Here are 6 surprising health benefits of sweet potatoes.

1.Highly Nutritious: Sweet potatoes are a great source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. In addition, sweet potatoes, especially the orange and purple varieties — are rich in antioxidants that protect your body from free radicals.

2.Promote Gut Health: The fibre and antioxidants in sweet potatoes are advantageous to gut health. Sweet potatoes contain two types of fibre: soluble and insoluble.Your body cannot digest either type. Therefore,fibre stays within your digestive tract and provides a variety of gut-related health benefits.
Certain types of soluble fibre known as viscous fibres, absorb water and soften your stool. On the other hand, non-viscous, insoluble fibres don’t absorb water and add bulk.

3.May Have Cancer-Fighting Properties: Sweet potatoes offer various antioxidants, which may help protect against certain types of cancers. Anthocyanins — a group of antioxidants found in purple sweet potatoes,have been found to slow the growth of certain types of cancer cells in test-tube studies,including those of the bladder,colon, stomach,and breast.

4.Support Healthy Vision: Sweet potatoes are incredibly rich in beta-carotene,the antioxidant responsible for the vegetable’s bright orange color. In fact,one cup (200 grams) of baked orange sweet potato with skin provides more than seven times the amount of beta-carotene that the average adult needs per day.Beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A in your body and used to form light-detecting receptors inside your eyes.

5.May Enhance Brain Function: Consuming purple sweet potatoes may improve brain function.No studies have been done to test these effects in humans,but in general,diets rich in fruits, vegetables,and antioxidants are associated with a 13% lower risk of mental decline and dementia.

6.May Support Your Immune System: Sweet
potatoes are an excellent source of beta-carotene, which can be converted to vitamin A and help support your immune system and gut health.