On the southern island of Japan, there is a group of Japanese known as the Okinawans. People who are recognized for their youthful complexion and not for their age. So what is the secret of this fountain of youth? The secret is believed to be that diet. They delight in starchy tubers as part of their main diet, and one of these staple vegetables is the sweet potato.
Sweet potatoes and other starchy tubers are anti-aging superstars. For years, nutritionists have advised us to fill plates with a variety of vegetable colors, and not just the green variety. Conventional potatoes don’t provide the same kick. The sweet potato provides sugar but unlike sweets, to provide a slow release and sustainable source of carbohydrates, essential for our energy and vitality.
In fact, a recent study from China showed how purple sweet potatoes contain a natural anthocyanin (a super powerful antioxidant that has neuroprotective effects). The potato is also rich in vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene. This element is essential to prevent rough and flaky skin. It also helps protect skin against sun damage and helps balance pH levels and promotes a smoother complexion. The antioxidant levels contained in potatoes are so high that they are excellent for cancer prevention. So if one of your loved ones is a smoker, feed them sweet potatoes!
Another reason you might want to include sweet potatoes in your diet is because of their high levels of hyaluronic acid. As we age, these acid levels decrease. Our bodies depend on this to keep our skin hydrated and our body’s joints lubricated. It also helps maintain collagen levels in our skin without resulting in bovine collagen injections.