Are Sweet Potatoes Really Good For Bodybuilders?

Sweet potatoes feature in many a bodybuilder's daily diet. Alongside rice, potatoes, oats and pasta, sweet potatoes are a top source of carbohydrate, meaning they're a good source of energy for anyone hitting it hard in the gym. In addition to the carb content, sweet potatoes have numerous other benefits for bodybuilders.

Sweet potatoes are loaded with fibre however bodybuilders may tend to ignore fibre at their peril and as we all know fibre is essential to control appetite, burn fat, maintain healthy digestion and build muscle. A one cup serving of sweet potatoes contains about 8 grams of fibre which is a great amount in just one single serving.

Bodybuilders require a large number of calories throughout the day to promote muscle development while supporting the large body size. With no fat or cholesterol and only 2 grams of protein, potatoes are mainly used for calories and carbohydrates.

Sweet potatoes are rich in complex carbohydrates, dietary fibre, beta-carotene, vitamin C, manganese and potassium. After a workout, body's glycogen level drops, and sweet potato being a complex carb helps restore glycogen level. Carbohydrates are an extremely important macronutrient in bodybuilding and sweet potatoes provide plenty of carbohydrate for energy. They are also tasty, versatile and easy to prepare, making them the ideal bodybuilding food.

The high amount of dietary fibre, the low calorie content, and the high amount of water, all work together to make sweet potatoes a great food if you are trying to lose weight. One of the main ways that sweet potatoes can help you lose weight is due to their high amount of dietary fibre and fibre is slow digesting which is all beneficial when dieting.

The average-size serving of sweet potatoes has fewer calories than an average-size serving of white potatoes, containing 112 calories versus 168. Additionally, the carbohydrate content is a little lower in sweet potatoes -- 26 grams compared to 38 grams in white potatoes. This difference can benefit bodybuilders who are dieting. Eating lower-calorie sweet potatoes makes it easier to maintain a calorie deficit and burn fat.

Best ways to eat sweet potatoes

• Mashed
• Cut up in wedges or fries
• boiled
• Roasted
• Mixed in Omelette
• Grilled
• Next to some protein