Want to know what vegetable is the number one most nutritious veggie? The Center for Science in the Public Interest gives the award to…..drumroll please……..the sweet potato!

Surprised? You probably thought these spuds were duds on the dietary level. After all, we know white potatoes turn quickly into sugar in the bloodstream, so SWEET potatoes surely are worse. Wrong! The sweet potato is a low 17 on the glycemic index. And it carries a big nutritional wallop along with that low number. A one cup serving contains 65% of your minimum daily requirements of Vitamin C. They are also a good source of calcium, folate, potassium, and beta carotene. Beta carotene converts to Vitamin A in your body, so one serving of gives you as much as 700% of the Vitamin A you need.

Not impressed? Then let me explain that Vitamin A and beta carotene are the fountain of youth for your skin. The substances in many high dollar skin products like retinol and retinoic acid are derived from Vitamin A. Besides, the beta carotene combats free radicals which cause skin aging.

They are also high in potassium, which helps combat the effects of tension and helps alleviate muscle cramps. To get the most from your sweet potatoes, boil or steam them rather than bake them, and keep the skins on if possible. And — this may surprise you — they are healthier if you eat a little fat with them. A small amount of fat, as in a teaspoon of coconut oil or even butter, will make the nutrients more absorbable. (Really! I looked it up.)

These veggies are not exotic, not expensive, and not even hard to grow. So eat some sweet potatoes. Your skin will thank you!

Eating to live and living for Christ,

Susan Jordan Brown