On the face of it, it doesn’t make sense.
Anyone cutting carbs knows potatoes are the enemy. One medium potato contains about 35 grams of carbs, two of which come from fiber. And if you deep fry it to make it extra tasty, potatoes really become the enemy to any diet.
You know what else is the enemy to losing weight? Sweets!
So then how the heck are sweet potatoes, and even sweet potato fries, considered healthy enough to be included in many of MegaFit Meals’ offerings?
We’re glad you asked!
Sweet Potato Basics
Outside of the obvious exterior color difference, what’s inside is key, as sweet potatoes are higher in many nutrients.
According to the USDA, one sweet potato provides far more than 100% of your recommended daily allotment of vitamin A, which is an antioxidant that boosts immunity and helps you maintain healthy skin and vision.
Sweet potatoes are also rich in vitamin C and B6, important for brain and nervous system health. They’re also a good source of potassium and magnesium, which help improve heart health by helping to regulate blood pressure.
Even better, sweet potatoes contain high water content and plant-based fiber, which can help with weight loss due to promoting fullness. In addition, dietary fiber can lower the risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol.
What about the carbs?
Sweet potatoes, like regular potatoes, are starchy root vegetables.
A half-cup of sweet potatoes contains about 13 grams of carbs, while the same amount of a non-starchy vegetable like broccoli has about 3 grams.
BUT, sweet potatoes do stack up better when compared to regular potatoes.
- Calories: 125 calories in a potato vs. 108 calories in a sweet potato.
- Carbs: 20.4 g carbs in a potato vs. 16.8 g carbs in a sweet potato
- Fiber: 4 g of fiber in a potato vs. 2.4 g in a sweet potato
Plus, being a starchy vegetable, they provide more energy to fuel your workouts and activities than non-starchy vegetables.
So to recap:
Sweet potatoes are higher in nutrients and fiber and lower in calories and carbs than regular potatoes. Because they are complex carbs, they make a perfect addition to your meals, no matter your fitness goals.
And they provide plenty of energy to help you perform at your peak. Oh, and did we mention how tasty they are, too.
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