mon stomachache cause). Plus, vitamins A, B, and C, calcium, and potassium can help ease stomach ulcers and similar issues because of their anti-inflammatory properties.

4. They’re a good carb choice for dieters and diabetics.
One uncooked, medium-sized sweet potato is about 112 calories, fat free, cholesterol free, and low sodium. Of course, that changes depending on how you prepare it, but steaming or boiling them brings out their natural sweetness with minimal caloric effect. (Just go easy on additional toppings like salt, butter, and oil.)

It ranks low on the Glycemic Index (GI) scale, especially compared to white breads and rice. The GI scale judges foods based on how much and how quickly they increase blood glucose levels. Foods on the lower end of the spectrum raise it only slightly over a long period of time.

Because its effect on blood sugar is relatively small, the sweet potato’s a good choice for diabetics who need carbs that don’t spike insulin levels. A study performed at the University of Vienna, Austria in 2003 came to the same conclusion. Among participants with type 2 diabetes, those who received high doses of white-skinned sweet potatoes showed the largest decrease in insulin resistance without a difference in body weight or other factors that might have an effect.

5. Sweet or savory, the options are endless.
For years, I thought I hated sweet potatoes because I’d only experienced them one way—covered in brown sugar and marshmallows. (Yuck.) However, they’re so versatile and naturally delicious it’s hard to find people who don’t like them in some capacity. If you’re still unconvinced about the different ways to cook up sweet potatoes, check out some of these variations.

Sweet potatoes are usually associated with Thanksgiving Day menus, but they deserve a spot on our everyday menus, too. With the host of ways they contribute to our physical well-being, it’d be a shame to limit those benefits to once a year. Don’t like ’em sweet? Get experimental with savory recipes instead. It’s in our best interest to ditch carb elimination and embrace sweet potatoes in our daily diets—our bodies (and taste buds) will thank us.

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