Are sweet potatoes bad for high cholesterol?

QUESTION: are sweet potatoes bad for high cholesterol? How much can one eat?


ANSWER: Hi,

Regarding the last studies, sweet potatoes are considered as a very healthful food. Some doctors are encouraging their patients to eat sweet potatoes to reduce the amount of cholesterol in their organism.

There is a scientific proof of this. Potatoes contain about 8% dietary fiber. These fibers are helping you to discharge the excessive amount of cholesterol taken with the food.

The explanation of this is hidden in the way of cholesterol absorption. These fibers are blocking the channels thru which, the cholesterol and triglycerides are moving from the intestines to the bloodstream.

As a consequence, the only possible option for the cholesterol is to be excreted from your gastrointestinal system.

Furthermore, these fibers are entering in your system and they are inhibiting the synthesis of cholesterol.

In other words, fibers inhibit the new creation and entry of cholesterol in your organism.

Now, the way you cook sweet potatoes will also affect their ability to lower cholesterol. Therefore, boil them in hot water and do not fry them.

Keep in mind that when you are frying something, you are elevating the amount of cholesterol contained in this particular food, and you are destroying the important substances.

For that reason, people with high cholesterol are supposed not to eat fried foods, especially when we are talking about sweet potatoes.

All the best!

Dr.Alba