This unique vegetable is known for its amazing health benefits and ability to help those who eat it live to 100 years or older.
The Japanese sweet potato, also known as imo, is a key part of the traditional Okinawan, Japan, diet, which is famous for promoting good health and long life.
The humble sweet potato has been hailed a secret to living longer after featuring in the recent Netflix show, Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zone.
The show explores why people in certain areas, known as Blue Zones, tend to live longer than average.
After a decade long study of the Okinawan people, researchers confirmed that all Okinawans aged 90 and over reportedly ate an average of half a kilo of purple sweet potatoes per day.
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The imo, a Japanese sweet potato, is not only low in calories but also a good source of fibre, which can keep you feeling full for longer compared to other starchy foods.
This purple sweet potato also provides an impressive 500 percent of your daily vitamin A needs in just one cup.
It’s packed with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory vitamins such as C and E, which are usually found in high-fat foods, not low-fat veggies.
These potatoes are also rich in B vitamins, including vitamin B6, folate, thiamin, and riboflavin. They also contain over 700 mg of potassium per cup, which can help lower blood pressure by counteracting the harmful effects of sodium.
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This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
