Purple sweet potatoes are not only good for giving your taste buds a sweet taste but they also aid in cardiovascular helath. Purple sweet potatoes were originally cultivated around the Central American region. This starch-rich tuber plant is a dicotyledon, belonging to the family of Convolvulaceae, and named botanically as Ipomoea batatas. Purple sweet potatoes have a crunchy, starch-rich flesh that is loaded with a flavonoid pigment of anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber that are essential for great health within the human body.
Purple sweet potatoes are grown throughout the regions of tropical and warm temperatures. This potato requires efforts of sufficient water and they require little attention for their successful harvest. The tuberous root features an elongated shape with tapered ends that have a smooth outer skin with colors ranges from red, purple, brown, and white. Purple sweet potatoes should not be confused with yams which are another starchy root that is widely grown in the West Africa region. Both of these crops are distinguished because Purple sweet potatoes are dicotyledonous, relatively smaller in size and possess very thin peel. On the other hand yams are monocotyledons, larger, and feature thick, rough, dark brown skin depending upon the cultivar type. Internally purple sweet potatoes have a starchy, sweet flesh which, depending upon the pigment concentration.
Purple sweet potatoes are one of the higher calorie starch foods. The tuber, however, contains no saturated fats or cholesterol. It’s main quality is a rich source of dietary fiber, anti-oxidants, vitamins, and minerals. The calories content also comes mainly from starch which is a complex carbohydrate. Purple sweet potatoes also have a higher amylose to the amylopectin ratio than regular potatoes. Amylose raises the blood sugar levels slower in comparison to simple fruit sugars therefore, it is recommended as a healthy food item even in if you are suffering from diabetes.
The tuber is also an excellent source of flavonoid compounds such as beta-carotene and vitamin-A. These compounds are powerful natural antioxidants. Vitamin A is also required for the human body to maintain integrity of the mucus membranes and skin. Vitamin A is also vital nutrient for healthy vision. The consumption of natural vegetables and fruits rich in flavonoids helps protect from lung and oral cavity cancers within the human body. These tubers are packed with many essential vitamins such as Vitamin B-5, Vitamin B-6, Vitamin B-1, niacin, as well as riboflavin. These vitamins are essential in the sense that the human body requires them from external sources to replenish. These vitamins function as co-factors for various enzymes for the metabolism to operate functionally.
Purple sweet potato provides good amount of vital minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, and potassium that are very essential for enzyme, protein, and carbohydrates to the metabolism. Purple sweet potato top greens are indeed more nutritious than the tuber itself and they carry more iron, vitamin C, folates, vitamin K, and potassium but less sodium than its tuber.
Here at NutraCap Labs we carry Purple sweet potatoes as one of our premium ingredients. Let us help you formulate your next product for your line with this amazing ingredient. To get the process started visit us online at www.nutracapusa.com
