Sweet Potato or Potato: Which Should You Choose?

Sweet potato or potato – what's the difference, and how should each be integrated into your daily diet? Dr. Maya Rozman addressed these questions on her radio program on 103FM.

"It’s true that sweet potatoes have more sugar than potatoes, but the calories in 100 grams are relatively similar," the nutritionist explained.

"Sweet potatoes contain 5% sugar compared to less than 2% in potatoes, but the glycemic index of sweet potatoes is much lower than that of potatoes. This means the carbohydrates in sweet potatoes digest and absorb much more slowly, making them more suitable for people with diabetes, even though potatoes contain less sugar – note, they are less recommended for diabetes."

(Photo: shutterstock)

She further noted, "Sweet potatoes have an enormous amount of vitamin A, which is almost absent in potatoes. This vitamin is crucial for our immune system, night vision, and it isn’t destroyed by heat, meaning it remains abundant in baked or fried sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes also contain plenty of iron and potassium, which is necessary for regulating blood pressure."

And what about kids who don’t eat vegetables?

According to her, "The advantage is that kids love sweet potatoes. If they don’t eat vegetables, it's an excellent way to incorporate vitamin A and minerals into their diet."

Related Topics:

How many calories are in a sweet potato?

Why is it important to eat sweet potatoes? Here are 7 reasons

All the advantages of the sweet veggie: What you can make with sweet potatoes