A small, dicotyledonous plant in the Convolvulaceae family, the sweet potato has large starchy tuberous roots. Its roots are commonly consumed as a vegetable, while the young shoots and leaves are also sometimes eaten. The resulting calorie content of 250g sweet potato is about the same as one cup of white rice. Here are some nutritional facts about this root vegetable. They’re not all bad.
The 500g serving of sweet potatoes is equivalent to about one medium potato. This is around one and a half US cups. This calorie content is high, so a single serving is high in carbs. However, this is not a bad thing when it comes to dieting. You can increase the portion size and still maintain a healthy weight by eating more sweet potatoes. The calorie content of sweet potatoes makes them a great food choice for people on a diet, because they’re low in calories.
A single serving of sweet potato contains almost one-third of your daily recommended intake of vitamin A. It also contains beta-carotene, which is found in many colorful fruits and vegetables. It is converted to Vitamin A when ingested, and supports the corneal function of the eye, allowing the person to see even in low-light conditions. Vitamin A can also prevent night blindness. One cup of boiled sweet potato contains 31.8 mg of Vitamin C. Vitamin C has a variety of health benefits, from lowering the risk of stroke to fighting cancer to preventing inflammation and wrinkles.
