On the southern island of Japan, there is a group of Japanese people known as the Okinawans. People who are famous for their youthful complexion and don’t look their age. So what is the secret to this fountain of youth? It is believed that the secret is that diet. They feast on starchy root vegetables as part of their main diet, and one of these staple vegetables is the sweet potato.
Sweet potatoes and other starchy root vegetables are anti-aging superstars. For years, nutritionists have advised us to fill our plates with a variety of colors of vegetables, and not just the green variety. Conventional potatoes don’t provide the same kick. The sweet potato provides sugar but unlike sweets, it provides 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 skin complexion. The antioxidant levels contained in potatoes are so high that they are excellent for cancer prevention. So if one of your loved ones smokes, feed them sweet potatoes!
Another reason why 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 drop. Our bodies depend on it to keep our skin hydrated and the joints in our body lubricated. It also helps maintain collagen levels in our skin without giving rise to bovine collagen injections.
