Diet & Weight Magazine

Benefits of Eating Sweet Potatoes When Bodybuilding

By Enutrition
Benefits of Eating Sweet Potatoes When BodybuildingBenefits of Eating Sweet Potatoes When BodybuildingSome foods are demonized for absolutely no reason at all and sweet potatoes are one of them. If you are a bodybuilder, it should be a very important part of your diet as it is a great source of carbohydrates that will give you energy when you hit the gym. In addition to the carb content, sweet potatoes have other benefits as well. Let’s have a look at some of them:It Helps With Calorie ControlA lot of people don’t know this but sweet potatoes actually have less calories than white potatoes. If an average sized white potato has 168 calories, then a sweet potato of the same size will have 112 calories. This is great for bodybuilders who want to watch their weight and buff up their body.The Glycemic IndexThe Glycemic Index is a measure of how quickly a food item can increase the blood sugar level in a person. Eating food that has low GI is healthy as it sustains the energy levels throughout the day because they digest slowly. Sweet potatoes have low GI, which makes them the perfect snack that you can have before the workout.Rich in FiberSweet potatoes have a lot of fiber that is needed by body builders. Fiber helps in a number of different things like building muscle, controlling appetite, maintaining healthy digestion, and burning fat. One cup of sweet potato contains 8 grams of fiber.It is loaded With PotassiumSweet potatoes are rich in potassium and help with nerve function, muscle control, and electrolyte balance. An athlete who trains extensively needs a lot more potassium than a person who does not work out as found out by the Colorado State University Extension service. Our daily potassium requirement is 4,700 milligrams of potassium daily and an average sized sweet potato has 694 milligrams that mounts up to 15% of the minimum intake.How Often Should You Eat Them?Sweet potatoes are a great source of energy but how much quantity should be consumed by body builders? Let’s have a look at that:Total Carbohydrate IntakeRemember that carbohydrate intake depends on a person’s height, weight, and body goals. For bodybuilders, it can help them in building their muscles. It is important that you keep a track of the amount of carbohydrates that you consume very day rather than the amount of sweet potatoes.Meal FrequencyAccording to the International Society of Sports Nutrition, how often you eat has no effect on bodybuilding. So it doesn’t matter if you consume 100 grams of sweet potatoes in one go or break it down into three small meals.Consuming Too MuchRemember that moderation is the key when it comes to being healthy. Don’t consume too much sweet potatoes because that way you will surpass your daily set limit of potassium and vitamin A.In conclusion, sweet potatoes should be an important part of the diet because it has many health benefits when body building.

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