Study: Sweet potato, healthy yet dangerous

Sunday, February 12, 2012

SWEET potato is the common crop planted in Benguet. It can be seen anywhere. Most of us could have experienced all those stomach inconveniences after eating this soft and mushy vegetable when cooked.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest through its online writer Katherine Brind Amour claimed sweet potato is the healthiest food and is the “king of the vegetables”.

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What then makes sweet potato healthy?

Amour said sweet potato is loaded with vitamin A, which is important for vision as well as for skin, nail, and hair. It also protects the body from bacterial infections. It is high in potassium which helps the heart and kidney function and facilitates muscle contractions. Potassium also regulates blood pressure and keeps the body fluids in balance.

Vitamin C is also found in high levels in this vegetable. It promotes healing and helps the body fight infections. It also keeps the body vessel walls and gums healthy.

Likewise, sweet potato contains calcium which helps build strong bones and teeth and is necessary for healthy muscle and nerve functions. It even contains vitamin B6 which helps the body metabolize carbohydrates and proteins. Vitamin B6 also promotes healthy nerves and helps the body form red blood cells.

Sweet potato is a good source of fiber, copper and various vitamins and minerals. Besides, it is low in calories, fat – free and has a low glycemic load which means it is digested slowly making the consumer feel fuller for longer period of time.

Benguet State University Nutritionist Sherilyn Balauro said the nutrient of sweet potato could also be present in other vegetables. “The only difference is that the amount of each nutrient present among other vegetables varies.”

“There are also nutrients in the peelings of sweet potato. So when cooking, if you want to conserve the nutrients, you have the choice not to peel off the skin. But for sanitation’s sake, it is still good to peel it off,” said Balauro.

Though sweet potato is considered as one of the healthiest crop, there could be some disadvantages of excessive intake.

Online writer Juniper Russo said while moderate amount of such healthy crop is safe, pregnant women should avoid eating more than one sweet potato per week. This is to prevent complications for their unborn babies due to high concentration of vitamin A present in sweet potato.

Nutritionists and obstetricians have warned women over years. Russo wrote excessive intake of sweet potato for pregnant women may kill the baby inside. She said it is a general knowledge anything taken abusively can cause complications to the human health. She advised then public to watch out every food they are eating.