Given their nutritional value, you probably want to eat as many fruits and vegetables as possible. But according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), not all fruits and vegetables are created equal. The agency has compiled a list of 41 healthy fruits and vegetables, backed by research, that ranks the best of the best. But since something has to be at the bottom, there's one vegetable that didn't make it to the top, so consider it the worst of the best. So what's the least healthy vegetable?
ContentWhich vegetable is the least healthy? What other vegetables are considered the least healthy? Can I still eat sweet potatoes?
WomanEL offers to learn about it, and also shares the opinion of nutrition experts on whether it is necessary to eat it.
What the least healthy vegetable
Sweet potatoes themselves are not harmful to health. But they are less nutritious compared to others, Source: freepik.com
The least healthy vegetable is sweet potatoes. But this does not mean that sweet potatoes are harmful to health – they are simply not considered as nutritious as other vegetables.
“As a dietitian, it’s important to me that we pay more attention to the big picture when it comes to vegetables,” says nutrition expert Jessica Cording. “Most people don’t eat enough vegetables at all. So, from my perspective, it’s much more important to encourage people to just eat any vegetables.”
Sweet potatoes are even sometimes called a “superfood” because of their high vitamin A and fiber content, says nutritionist Scott Keatley.
But the downside is that sweet potatoes are starchy, Cording says. “It has more carbohydrates than, say, green or cruciferous vegetables,” Cording explains. “There is nothing wrong with that. But starchy vegetables, such as sweet potatoes, are best eaten in the context of meals or snacks that contain protein and fat, which help keep blood sugar levels stable.”
Keatley also notes that the vegetable has a relatively high glycemic index compared to others. This means it can cause blood sugar levels to rise more quickly. This can be a concern for people with diabetes or blood sugar sensitivity, “especially if they eat large portions or combine sweet potatoes with other foods with a high glycemic index,” Keatley adds.
Did you know that experts also named a less healthy fruit? Here is which one received this “anti-award”.
What other vegetables are considered less useful for health?
Formally, all vegetables are considered healthy. But on the scale of nutrients, vegetables are right above sweet potatoes:
- Leeks;
- Turnips;
- Rubbish;
- Butternut squash;
Can you still eat sweet potatoes?
Of course. Cording says she’s seen clients try to avoid certain vegetables because they’ve read or heard that they’re not as healthy as others. But all vegetables have some benefits, including sweet potatoes. “Sweet potatoes are loaded with fiber, potassium, and antioxidants like vitamin A, vitamin C, and beta-carotene,” she says.
Keathley emphasizes that sweet potatoes “absolutely” have a place in most people’s balanced diets. If you’re concerned about blood sugar spikes, he recommends pairing sweet potatoes with protein or healthy fats to help lower the glycemic impact.
“While sweet potatoes may not be perfect, they’re a nutritious food with a lot of health benefits. “Especially when consumed in moderation and as part of a balanced diet,” says Keatley.
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