Benefits of purple sweet potato for weight loss

If you are a sweet potato fan, don't miss to taste the delicious purple sweet potato, and get ready to be addicted to this one food. The reason is, purple sweet potato has a soft, sticky texture and a sweet taste. Besides being delicious, purple sweet potato is also rich in nutrients and minerals that are good for the body. If you are trying to lose weight, purple sweet potato must be included in the list of the diet menu. Check out the full benefits of purple sweet potato below.

Based on research, purple sweet potato can help you lose weight

One study conducted on mice and published in the Journal of Medicinal Food found that purple sweet potato extract was able to shrink fat cells. However, it is still unknown whether purple sweet potato offers the same weight loss benefits for humans or not. That is why, further research is needed to ascertain the benefits of purple sweet potato for weight loss.

Although research on the benefits of purple sweet potato for weight loss is still in its early stages, there are several things that make this food worth consuming if you are on a weight loss program.

Benefits of purple sweet potato for weight loss

1. Rich in fiber

Purple sweet potato that is still complete with its skin is one of the foods that are high in fiber. Even compared to potatoes, purple sweet potatoes are higher in fiber.

One medium purple sweet potato contains 4 grams of fiber. This amount has met 15 percent of the daily value of fiber intake. While one medium potato contains only 2 grams of fiber or 9 percent of the daily value of fiber intake.

The high fiber content in purple sweet potatoes can help you lose weight. The reason is, fiber makes you feel full after eating and maintains your appetite.

Purple sweet potato also contains a certain type of fiber called resistant starch. Based on research published in the journal Biomedical and Environmental Science, a diet rich in resistant starch helps reduce the risk of obesity.

In addition, adequate fiber intake can also keep your cholesterol levels low, protect against cardiovascular disease, and reduce the risk of rising blood sugar.

2. Contains complex carbohydrates

One medium purple sweet potato contains 28 grams of complex carbohydrates. At first glance it may not sound very useful for weight loss. However, because they are low in calories and high in nutrients, purple sweet potatoes can provide you with additional energy intake which causes you to burn more calories between meals.

In addition, these healthy carbohydrates also help your brain produce glucose, which can maintain concentration and keep you focused. Of course, this is important for you so you can stay focused on a diet.

3. Helps control blood sugar

The purple color of the purple sweet potato comes from compounds called anthocyanins, which are known to have powerful antioxidant properties.

A study published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry found that the anthocyanins in purple sweet potatoes helped suppress post-meal spikes caused by insulin resistance. This makes purple sweet potatoes have benefits to help manage blood glucose levels and potentially reduce complications from diabetes.