Soft and creamy enough to be put in pies and called dessert, sweet potatoes are also a surprisingly nutritious vegetable. The orange-fleshed tubers are especially high in vitamin A (also called beta-carotene, which is the carotenoid that turns into vitamin A), vitamins C, E, and B6, fiber and manganese.
They even contain some iron. Plus, they’re fat-free, relatively low in sodium, and have fewer calories than white potatoes — although they do have more sugar.
Sweet potatoes are one of the best vitamin A sources out there, containing more than 100 percent of the daily recommended intake. Vitamin A is an antioxidant powerhouse, and beta-carotene has been linked to anti-aging benefits, cancer prevention, and helping maintain good eyesight.
While the orange variety is the most common in the United States, sweet potatoes also come in white, yellow, pink, and purple varieties. While the orange and yellow types contain the most vitamin A, the purple sort is an excellent way to get antioxidants.
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