The many benefits of sweet potato

WHO doesn't love a good slice of sweet potato pudding?

Well, now we have even more reasons to indulge in this superfood. Besides being scrumptious, sweet potatoes have a wide range of health and beauty benefits we all would appreciate.

Here are some of the reasons you should make this a regular staple in your diet.

Beauty food

In addition to vitamins A and C, sweet potato also contains vitamin E, which is excellent for the health of your skin. It can improve your complexion for flawless skin.

These three vitamins together are known as 'beauty food' for the skin.

Cures dry and cracked heels

If you have dry and cracked heels, use the water in which you have boiled sweet potatoes to soak your feet while it is still warm. This helps in curing cracked heels.

Heals dark eye circles and eye puffiness

Take two slices of sweet potato and keep them over your eyes. This can help in removing dark circles, wrinkles and puffiness of the eyes.

This is because of the presence of anthocyanin in sweet potato. It has anti-inflammatory properties and also helps in reducing pigmentation.

Improves skin texture

The water you get after you boil sweet potatoes is rich in nutrients. It can improve the texture of your skin and make your skin clear.

Strain the water you get after boiling sweet potatoes and store it in a bottle. Keep the bottle in the refrigerator to make it cool.

You can use this water as a skin toner. This can absorb all impurities from your skin and cleanse the pores deeply. It is also good for soothing irritated skin.

Moisturises the skin

Take half a cup of boiled sweet potato, one tablespoon of yoghurt and one tablespoon of oats. Blend them well to get a coarse paste. Scrub your face with this paste gently and rinse with lukewarm water.

Follow it by applying your favourite moisturiser on your skin.

Maintains the elasticity of your skin

Vitamin C is found in high quantities in sweet potatoes. This is great for the production of collagen, which can help in maintaining the elasticity of your skin. This way your skin will look young and keep glowing.

Prevents premature ageing

Take a big sweet potato and boil it till it is soft enough to easily pull out its skin.

Now take one tablespoon each of honey, milk and ginger juice. Blend all the ingredients to get a smooth paste.

Cleanse your face and neck and apply the paste well. Wait for 20 to 25 minutes and then wash off with warm water.

This helps in rejuvenating your skin and makes your skin fresh and hydrated. It can prevent premature ageing and make you look young for a longer period.

Treats oily skin

Boil sweet potatoes and mash them after they are cooled. Now add one teaspoon of honey to it and apply on your face. Wait for 20 to 30 minutes and then wash off.

You can also add a few drops of lemon juice if you have oily skin.

Benefits of sweet potatoes for the hair

Sweet potatoes also offer benefits for your hair.

Offers natural shine to hair

Make a mask of sweet potato by adding other ingredients like honey, yoghurt and olive oil to it. This is amazing for dull and rough hair.

It can keep your hair hydrated and gives it a shine.

Treats hair dryness

Sweet potato keeps your hair well nourished and in good condition. Take one big sweet potato and add one cup of yoghurt, one tablespoon of honey and one tablespoon of olive or coconut oil. Blend well and apply it on your hair and scalp. Wait for 15 minutes and wash off with water.

Health and medicinal benefits of sweet potatoes

There are still more benefits to be derived from using sweet potatoes.

Boosts immune system

Vitamin C present in sweet potato has antioxidant properties, which make it great for improving your immune system. As a result, you suffer less from common cold, cough, flu, and other diseases.

Good source of iron

If you are anaemic or your body becomes deficient in iron, sweet potato is rich in iron and increases the production of red blood cells, thus preventing anaemia.

It can also improve the resistance power and immunity power of the body, and reduce stress.

Promotes metabolism and treats premenstrual symptoms

Sweet potatoes contain manganese, which is great for improving metabolism and maintaining a healthy balance of the blood sugar levels in the body.

It is also good for suppressing your appetite, thereby preventing you from overeating. As a result, you can lose weight by including this vegetable in your regular diet.

It is good for anaemia and for treating severe premenstrual symptoms as well.

Antioxidant

Beta-carotene or vitamin A is present in high amounts in sweet potato. This is an effective antioxidant for preventing various types of cancer. It can repair the damage caused to the skin cells by the UV rays of the sun and also protect the skin from further damage by UV radiations.

So you can see that sweet potatoes have amazing benefits for your skin, health and hair. To include it in your regular diet you can try various sweet potato recipes and have it in different forms.

Michelle Vernon is a phlebotomist medical aesthetician who operates the Body Studio Skincare, located at 20 Constant Spring Road, Mall Plaza, Kingston 10, and Fairview Shopping Centre, Montego Bay. She may be reached at telephone 908-0438 or 684-9800; IG @ bodystudioskincare; E-mail: bodystudioskincare@gmail.com; Website: www.bodystudioskincare.com.

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