Beautiful skin starts with nourishment from within. Older cells are constantly shed and replaced by younger ones and a steady supply of key nutrients is essential to support this rapid growth. Eat the correct foods and you’ll feed your skin the vital nutrients it needs to help it stay soft, supple and blemish-free.
Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamin A. The vegetables are also rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin E .Studies have shown that dietary consumption or supplementation of Vitamin E has the potential of significantly increasing hair numbers in individuals who are suffering from hair loss. This is because Vitamin E contains antioxidant properties that help reduce oxidative stress, a major cause of alopecia.
Vitamin C has been known to be an effective dermatological treatment that can be used in the treatment of photoaging and hyperpigmentation. Vitamin C is also effective at neutralizing the oxidative stress caused by exposure to UV light. In addition, the combination of Vitamin C and E can significantly reduce the risk of skin cancer in individuals. Vitamin C is also essential in the synthesis of collagen, which is the main structural protein of the skin. A number of studies have also shown that Vitamin C contains anti-inflammatory properties. This means that the vitamin can help manage skin diseases such as acne, as well as promoting healing of wounds on the skin.
Vitamin A has been proven to be effective in the treatment and management of sun-damaged skin. In addition, the studies have shown that the vitamin is also effective in the treatment of skin cancer along with chemotherapy, and other treatment solutions. Other studies have shown that Vitamin A is an effective stimulant of collagen, making it useful in decreasing the rate of natural cell aging as well as inhibiting photoaging of our skin.
How to Add Them to Your Diet
Sweet potatoes are very easy to add to your diet. They can be enjoyed with or without the skin and can be baked, boiled, roasted, fried, steamed, or pan-cooked. Their natural sweetness pairs well with many different seasonings, and they can be enjoyed in both savory and sweet dishes.
Some popular ways to enjoy sweet potatoes include:
- Sweet potato chips: Peeled, thinly
sliced, and baked or fried. - Sweet potato fries: Peeled, cut into
wedges or matchsticks, and baked or fried. - Sweet potato toast: Cut into thin
slices, toasted, and topped with ingredients like nut butter or avocado. - Mashed sweet potatoes: Peeled, boiled,
and mashed with milk and seasoning. - Baked sweet potatoes: Baked whole in
the oven until fork-tender. - Sweet potato hash: Peeled, diced,
and cooked with onion in a pan. - Spiralized sweet potatoes: Cut into
spirals, sautéed, and sauced. - In baked goods: Sweet potato puree adds moisture
without fat.
Preparing sweet potatoes with a little fat — such as coconut oil, olive oil, or avocado — can help boost the absorption of beta-carotene since it’s a fat-soluble nutrient. Although cooking sweet potatoes slightly reduces their beta-carotene content, they still retain at least 70% of this nutrient and are considered an excellent source.
Sweet potatoes contain high levels of Vitamin A, C, and E, all of which are useful in the promotion of proper skin and hair health. These vitamins are useful in repairing skin that is damaged due to exposure to UV light. The vitamins also slow down the cell aging process in the skin helping you retain a youthful look for longer. In addition, vitamin E is especially useful in the prevention and treatment of alopecia, and maintaining good hair health.
