Sweet Potato Surprises AARP The Magazine

Sweet Potato Surprises AARP The Magazine

Sweet Potato Surprises - AARP The Magazine Diet & Nutrition

Sweet Potato Surprises

The ultimate holiday vegetable is shockingly good for you

With more fiber than a bowl of oatmeal, more vitamin A than a cup of carrots, and more potassium than a banana, a sweet potato is the healthiest — and possibly least appreciated — holiday food. Rich in vitamin C, it's loaded with carotenoids — powerful antioxidants that protect against cancer and heart disease and boost immune function. Its high potassium content helps control blood pressure. And at 150 calories, it is naturally low calorie, says nutritionist Joy Bauer, author of Slim & Scrumptious. Alas, we tend to drown this nutritional powerhouse in butter and sugar, negating all its natural goodness. But Art Smith, Oprah Winfrey's former personal chef, says unadorned sweet potatoes are making a comeback. "I use sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes in all my favorite recipes," adds Smith, who recently shed 100 pounds. For a healthier alternative to classic candied yams, try Smith's . There's no better match for roasted turkey or ham.

Expert Advice Chew on This


Most of us sabotage our diets even before we sit down to our Thanksgiving Day meal, because we nibble on prefeast snacks. At the Cornell Food and Brand Lab we recently asked just over a thousand people about their holiday food choices and found that most ate about 10 percent of their total calories before the turkey was served. One trick for eating less: Limit your premeal grazing to what ­ ever homemade goodies are provided, and shun the store-bought crackers, cheese, and nuts. You'll please the person who made the treats — and you'll have more room for the big meal. — Brian Wansink, Ph.D. Featured AARP Member Benefits See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Magazines & Resources offers > See more Restaurants offers > See more Vision Benefits offers > Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures

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