There are many varieties of Sweet potatoes, but they generally all share the same cylindrical shape with tapered ends. In terms of size, sweet potatoes can grow up to 12 inches long and weigh about a pound.
Generally, the smooth skin is white, golden brown, copper red, or purple. Firm or supple, the opaque flesh varies in colour from white to yellow, orange, or a deep magenta-purple. White varieties tend to have a firmer and drier texture, while orange varieties tend to be softer and moister.
Some sweet potatoes are sweeter than others, and they have a sugary nuttiness with earthy undertones.
Contrary to their common name, sweet potatoes are not botanically related to potatoes. A potato is a stem tuber belonging to the nightshade family, whereas a sweet potato is the root of a vine that grows from a flowering branch belonging to the morning glory family.
The National Sweetpotato Collaborators Group and the National Sweetpotato Association recommended spelling Sweetpotato as one word in 1989 to distinguish between the two names ( potato and sweetpotato), however, the modern vocabulary still spells Sweet potato as two words.
Sweet potatoes have a high content of vitamin A, C, iron, potassium, and fiber, making them one of the healthiest vegetables. Beta-carotene, the precursor to vitamin A in our bodies, is found in the orange-fleshed sweet potato varieties.
Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of complex carbohydrates. Furthermore, they also contain antioxidants. The skin of a sweet potato has 3 times more antioxidants than the inner flesh.
Scientific name of Sweet Potato
Ipomoea Batatas
Other names of Sweet Potato
- Kamote
- Camote
- Patata
Nutrition facts of Sweet Potato
*Serving size = 100 grams = 3.55 Ounces = 1/2 cup
*DV= % Daily Value (%DV indicates how much nutrients contribute to a person’s daily diet from a serving of a food. DV assists you in determining whether or not a serving of food is high or low in a particular nutrient.)
| Nutrient | Amount | Unit | DV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 86 | KCAL | |
| Fat | 0.05 | GRAM | 0% |
| Protein | 1.57 | GRAM | 3% |
| Carbohydrate | 20.12 | GRAM | 7% |
Calories by source in Sweet Potato:
- Calories by carbohydrate in Sweet Potato = 94%
- Calories by fat in Sweet Potato = 1%
- Calories by protein in Sweet Potato = 5%
Fats and Fatty Acid profile of Sweet Potato:
- Polyunsaturated fat (PUFA) in Sweet Potato = 42%
- Saturated fat (SFA) in Sweet Potato = 55%
- Monounsaturated fat (MUFA) in Sweet Potato = 3%
Detailed vitamin profile of Sweet Potato, vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin D, Folate, Niacin, Thiamin, and Riboflavin is shown in the chart at the end of the article.
Detailed mineral profile of Sweet Potato, Sodium(Na), Calcium(Ca), Copper(Cu), Iron(Fe), Magnesium(Mg), Selenium(Se), Phosphorus(P), Potassium(K) and Zinc(Zn) is shown the chart at the end of the article.
Availability of Sweet potato
- Sweet potato is available round the year.
Complete nutrition facts of Sweet Potato
Click on the link HERE to download high quality, high resolution and print ready PDF version of the Sweet Potato nutrition chart/infographic.
