There are various kinds of foods in our surroundings and most of the times we tend to neglect their benefits. Taro root vegetables and sweet potato are among such neglected food items that are found during this season.

Here’s a list of the advantages of eating them. 

Taro Root Benefits 

Reduces Fatigue 

Taro root is mainly consumed by athletes for long lasting energy. This is because it contains a low glycemic index which is good for athletes. 

Reduces Weight 

Taro roots can prove to be very beneficial for the ones who want to lose weight, since this has very a low caloric content. One cup of cooked taro can give you 187 calories.

Helps Digestion

This root contains a good amount of fiber that is useful for the digestive process. This gives you a feeling of being full for a longer time even after a small meal. Thus, eating taro roots can be useful to lose pounds and maintain your weight, since it has low calories and high fiber.

Heart Health

One cup of taro has 0.1g fat and cholesterol, which helps to prevent hardening of the arteries. You can consume it several times without worrying about gaining weight or other health problems related to fatty foods like heart or kidney diseases. Taro roots can give 19% of the daily required Vitamin E that is required to prevent the risks of a heart attack.

Checks Hypertension

Hypertension or high blood pressure is mostly observed in the mid aged group of individuals which can be kept in control by consuming foods that are low in fat and sodium. One cup of taro gives only 20 mg of sodium that helps to maintain kidney problems and fluid retention.

Antioxidant:

Taro is one of the best sources of Vitamin C, since one cup of taro can give 11% of your daily requirement of Vitamin C. This acts as an antioxidant to remove toxins from your body and detoxifies it.

Slows Aging Process:

This is a very nutritious food that contains many Vitamins – A, C, B, minerals like copper, manganese, zinc, magnesium, calcium, iron, selenium, potassium, beta-carotene and cryptoxanthin. All these are good antioxidants that are useful to protect against diseases and slow down the aging process. This also contains protein and is gluten-free, cholesterol-free and low in sodium too.

Sweet potato benefits

Improve Digestion

The fiber content of sweet potatoes is higher than that of common potatoes and they consist of other minerals like magnesium making them excellent facilitator for digestion. Sweet potatoes are easy to digest as well since they mainly contain starch. They are soothing for the stomach and intestines, so you can avoid any difficulties of digesting them.

Promotes Weight Gain

Sweet potatoes contain good amounts of complex starch, along with healthy vitamins, minerals, and some proteins. They provide a lot of energy and are excellent bulk builders for people looking to gain weight.

Helps Treat Inflammation

Like the common potatoes, sweet potatoes also have anti-inflammatory properties, although they belong to different food families. This is primarily due to the presence of beta-carotene, vitamin C, and magnesium. They are equally effective in curing internal and external inflammation.

Boosts Immune System

Being very rich in beta-carotene, which is a major antioxidant, along with vitamin C and B complex vitamins, iron, and phosphorus, sweet potatoes are excellent immune system boosters that can defend your body from a wide variety of conditions and afflictions.

Relieves Asthma

Sweet potatoes are effective for curing congestion of the nose, bronchi, and lungs; thereby, giving relief from asthma. Its typical aroma helps in this property.

Reduces Arthritis Pain

Beta-carotene, magnesium, zinc, and vitamin B complex make sweet potatoes highly important food source for managing arthritis. The water in which sweet potatoes are boiled can also be applied externally on joints to ease the associated pain of arthritis.

Controls Diabetes

Contrary to popular belief, sweet potatoes are beneficial for diabetics. Amazingly, they are very effective in regulating blood sugar levels by helping the proper secretion and function of insulin. Of course, that does not mean that diabetics should eat them indiscriminately. The idea is that sweet potatoes can replace rice or carbohydrate intake as a healthier option.