No, sweet potatoes are not bad for you in the least. They do have some calories and sugar (medium range on the glycemic index), but for most this shouldn't be a concern.
Sweet potatoes are rich in many essential nutrients all the while containing a modest amount of calories and sugar. Although sweet potatoes have more sugar than white potatoes, they are among the best sources for vitamin A, with one cup (200 grams) of sweet potato yielding over twice the daily recommended value. Vitamin A, a product coming from the carotenoids that are in sweet potatoes in abundance, is essential for healthy eyes and helps protect against the effects of aging as well as helping to fight free radicals that induce cancer.
Another vitamin found in sweet potato is vitamin D, which is important in maintaining healthy skin, bones, and keratin. Also, there may be a link between seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and vitamin D deficiency.
Also of importance is the abundance of B-complex vitamins found in sweet potatoes. Two of them, pantothenic acid and biotin are responsible for converting fat to energy and regulating blood sugar levels, respectively.
Necessary for the circulatory system and inducing relaxation is magnesium, a vital mineral of which perhaps on the order of 80% of North Americans are deficient. As mentioned above, sweet potatoes are rich in carotenoids. According to a study conducted by Harvard of over 100,000 people, those who ate a regular diet rich in carotenoids were over a third less likely to be at risk for lung cancer.
While sweet potatoes may not be the best thing to eat in terms of losing weight, they aren't so heavy in calories and sugar as to put you over the limit if you are watching what you eat in the first place. When seen in terms of the sheer amount of nutrients provided, sweet potatoes really are an excellent choice.
- helps fat metabolism
- protects against cancer
- helps regulate various organ systems
- helps regulate blood sugar levels
- helps prevent heart disease
- promotes healthy complexion
- promotes eye health