Another sexy superfood, the potassium in sweet potatoes helps fight high blood pressure, which is associated with a higher risk of erectile dysfunction.
They’re also rich in beta-carotene, which provides vitamin A. This is suspected to be helpful for those with infertility.
Storage proteins, called sporamins, in sweet potatoes also have important antioxidant properties. These sporamins are produced the sweet potato plants are subjected to physical damage. Their ability to help the plants heal is significantly related to their role as antioxidants. And we may receive some of these antioxidant benefits when sweet potato is digested inside of our gastrointestinal tract.
Even though starchy root vegetables aren’t necessarily known for controlling blood sugar, the 6.6 grams of dietary fiber in a medium sweet potato are a plus in terms of blood sugar regulation since they help steady the pace of digestion. In adddition, recent research has shown that extracts from sweet potatoes can significantly increase blood levels of adiponectin in persons with type 2 diabetes. Adiponectin, a protein hormone produced by our fat cells, serves as a modifier of insulin metabolism. People with poorly-regulated insulin metabolism and insulin insensitivity tend to have lower levels of adiponectin, and those with healthier insulin metabolism tend to have higher levels.
