What are the dangers of eating sweet potatoes for a long time

Sweet potatoes have many medicinal effects, so many people are willing to eat and like to eat them. There are many ways to eat them. They can be steamed, boiled, baked, made into porridge, and made into some desserts. However, although it tastes good, you cannot eat it often, otherwise you will fart frequently. In order to avoid embarrassment, it is best not to eat sweet potatoes continuously for a long time. This article introduces the benefits and disadvantages of eating sweet potatoes. Let’s take a look.

Benefits of eating sweet potatoes

1. Anti-cancer effect

Nutrients in the diet that have anti-cancer effects are beta-carotene (a precursor of vitamin A), vitamin C, and folic acid, and sweet potatoes are rich in all three. A small sweet potato (about 2 taels) can provide twice the amount of vitamin A required by the human body every day, one-third of the daily amount of vitamin C required, and about 50 micrograms of folic acid; the dietary fiber content is higher than that of a bowl of oatmeal porridge. The antioxidant effects of β-carotene and vitamin C help resist the damage of oxidative stress to the genetic material deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and play a certain anti-cancer role. Eating sweet potatoes regularly helps maintain normal folic acid levels in the body. Too low folic acid levels in the body will increase the risk of cancer. The high content of dietary fiber in sweet potatoes can promote gastrointestinal motility, prevent constipation and colorectal cancer.

2. Good for the Heart

Sweet potatoes are rich in potassium, beta-carotene, folic acid, vitamin C and vitamin B6, all of which help prevent cardiovascular disease. Potassium helps maintain fluid and electrolyte balance in the body's cells and maintain normal blood pressure and heart function. β-carotene and vitamin C have the effects of anti-lipid oxidation and preventing atherosclerosis. Supplementation of folic acid and vitamin B6 can help lower the level of homocysteine ​​in the blood, which can damage arteries and is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

3. Prevent emphysema

An animal experiment at the University of Kansas in the United States found that rats that smoked had lower levels of vitamin A in their bodies and were more prone to emphysema; while the incidence of emphysema was significantly reduced in rats that smoked and ate foods rich in vitamin A. Why some long-term smokers live to be over 90 years old without developing emphysema may be related to the rich vitamin A content in their daily diet. Researchers recommend that smokers or passive smokers eat foods rich in vitamin A, such as sweet potatoes, every day to prevent emphysema.

4. Sweet potatoes can prevent influenza

As the weather turns colder, the flu storm strikes again. A recent article published by American media pointed out that sweet potatoes can help resist influenza and prevent colds.

5. Anti-diabetic effect

Studies have shown that white-skinned sweet potatoes have certain anti-diabetic effects. A clinical study at the University of Vienna in Austria found that patients with type 2 diabetes improved their insulin sensitivity and helped control blood sugar after taking white-skinned sweet potato extract.

Sweet potatoes have been regarded by nutritionists as a nutritionally balanced food that can be used as both medicine and food. Their calories are only one-third of the calories produced by the same weight of rice, and they contain almost no fat and cholesterol. Eating sweet potatoes regularly is beneficial to human health and has certain weight loss effects. But don't eat too much sweet potatoes at one time to avoid abdominal discomfort symptoms such as heartburn, acid reflux or bloating.

6. Lose weight

Coarse grains are rich in dietary fiber. After entering the intestines, they can clean out the waste in the intestines, collect toxins and waste, and allow them to be excreted smoothly from the body. Sweet potatoes are also rich in dietary fiber and are particularly high in vitamins, which can create new cells in the intestines and promote metabolism.

7. Enhance immune function

Sweet potatoes contain a large amount of mucus protein, which can prevent atrophy of liver and kidney connective tissue, improve the body's immunity, and prevent the occurrence of collagen diseases. The calcium and magnesium contained in sweet potatoes can prevent osteoporosis.

8. Anti-aging and prevent arteriosclerosis

Redness can also inhibit skin aging, maintain skin elasticity, and slow down the body's aging process.

Disadvantages of eating sweet potatoes

1. Sweet potatoes contain an oxidase, which can easily produce a large amount of carbon dioxide gas in the human gastrointestinal tract. Eating too much sweet potatoes can cause bloating, burping, and farting.

2. Sweet potatoes contain a high amount of sugar. Eating too much can produce a large amount of stomach acid, causing heartburn. The stomach contracts more strongly due to the stimulation of acid. At this time, the cardia muscle at the junction of the stomach and esophagus relaxes, and the acid in the stomach flows back into the esophagus, causing the person to vomit acid.

3. If there is too much sugar, the body cannot absorb it all at once, and the remaining sugar will ferment in the intestines, which will also make your stomach uncomfortable.