There’s a lot of things to love about the winter, but having to worry about avoiding colds and and the flu isn’t one of them. Luckily, by making healthy decisions that help to boost your immunity, you can decrease your chances of coming down with an illness this year. One of the best ways to do that is by maintaining a nutritious diet. In fact, there’s one vegetable that’s in season right now that health experts say can help you keep your immune system strong—and even keep your gut healthy!
To discover the best winter vegetable for gut health and immunity, we spoke to nutritionist Lisa Richards, creator of The Candida Diet. She told us that adding sweet potato to your plate every day is a great idea, thanks to all the nutrients it offers up. Read on to learn more!
Sweet potatoes for immunity and gut health
When it comes to nutritious veggies that you can enjoy all winter long while boosting your immunity, it doesn't get much better than a classic sweet potato. "Sweet potatoes are a nutrient dense root vegetable full of vitamin A, fiber, and other beneficial vitamins and minerals," Richards tells us. "These nutrients make sweet potatoes an excellent food source for immune health and function."
In addition to supporting immunity, sweet potatoes also offer anti-inflammatory benefits, making them a great choice for your gut health as well. They also offer a good amount of both soluble and insoluble fiber, which can work together to aid digestion, lower cholesterol, and manage blood sugar. Overall, it's definitely worth add them to your plate this winter.
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How to prepare sweet potatoes for the most benefits
There are so many ways to enjoy this healthy vegetable! As Richards notes, "they are versatile in how they can be cooked and served while also having a naturally sweet flavor." However, how you prepare them can make a difference in their health benefits: There are some cooking methods that can reduce or counteract the sweet potato's health qualities and others that enhance them," she says.
If you want to reap the most benefits from your sweet potatoes, she suggests baking them. "Baking may be the most beneficial way to cook sweet potatoes because it prevents extra fat and calories being added along with enhancing the natural flavor," Richards tells us. "Avoid adding unnecessary ingredients that will only increase calories and fat like butter and sugar." Got it!
As far as seasoning goes, you can opt for some more sweetness with things like cinnamon and honey, or go the savory route with spices like garlic and chili. No matter how you like your sweet potatoes, though, they'll be sure to help you stay healthy all winter.
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