Nutritional and health benefits of sweetpotato that make it consumers’ choice

Abstract

In 2018, thirty sweet potato cultivars were collected from different parts of Osun State and evaluated at the Department of Agricultural Science, Osun State College of Education, Ilesa, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to determine the total number of people that can be fed from sweet potato cultivars in Osun State and to highlight the nutritional and health benefits of the crop. In addition to the empirical studies, review on the health and nutritional benefits of sweet potato were undertaken. Vine multiplication was done between January and May 2018. Randomized complete block design with three replicates was used as the experimental design and the evaluation was carried out between June and November, 2018. Collection of data for the study was done at various stages of the crop and at harvesting. Fresh root yield obtained showed significant difference and it ranged from 1.86 to 19.10t/ha while dry matter was between 28.10 and 43.29%. Health benefits of sweet potato include prevention of vitamin A deficiency, managing diabetics, protection against cancer, minimizing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, boosting and promoting fertility among women and a host of others. Four of the cultivars namely Oyan, Inisa, Ijeda and Erin be can be used to feed the highest number of people.