Fitness 4 Home Superstore: Sweet! Potatoes!

Sweet potatoes can be an excellent source of vitamins and great for your diet. In fact, there are many health advantages associated with those little Thanksgiving tubers. Take advantage of their wholesome benefits and learn some great ways to prepare sweet potatoes without drenching them in syrup and marshmallows!

Sweet potatoes are a good source of Vitamin E, which is aides in lowering cholesterol and helps prevent build-up in your arteries.

Potassium, which is necessary for water balance, bone health, normal blood pressure, nerve transmission and muscle contraction, is also found in sweet potatoes. In fact, sweet potatoes contain more potassium than bananas do!

The copper in sweet potatoes assists in the production of connective tissue and collagen, keeping your muscles healthy and strong.

Sweet potatoes also boast a healthy amount of carotenoids, plant compounds responsible for preventing the cell damage that can occur as a result of challenging physical activity like working out.

Quercetin, a potent nutrient found in some vegetables, can also be found in sweet potatoes and has been known to help ward off allergies like asthma and hay fever.

The 4 grams of fiber in a medium sweet potato contains about 10% of your daily need. This will leave you feeling satisfied after you eat and prevent you from over-eating!

Use the benefits as your motivation this Thanksgiving to stay away from the sugary sweet temptation of traditional sweet potato dishes. Here are some alternative ways to prepare sweet potatoes so you can take advantage of their healthy vitamins and minerals.

Mashed Sweet Potatoes. Instead of using instant or regular potatoes, steam sweet potatoes until they’re soft (about 10 minutes), peel them and mash with a little orange juice.

Baked Sweet Potatoes. Heat your oven to 400 degrees and cook until soft (about 30-40 minutes). You can also microwave them on high for 4-6 minutes.

Sweet Potato Fries. Cut raw sweet potatoes into wedges or strips and coat them with olive oil. Roast on a baking sheet at 400 degrees until golden and soft (about 20 minutes).

Sweet Potato Smoothies. Mix a leftover baked sweet potato with a cup of water, ice, a pinch of brown sugar, vanilla and a little bit of peanut butter in your blender. Blend until smooth for a creamy treat.

Sweet potatoes can also cooked and served cold as a snack, a topping for salads or a great flavor on your turkey sandwich!