Are Sweet Potatoes Actually Good For You?

As sweet potato fries begin to crop up more and more on menus, we can’t help but wonder if the starchy root vegetable is as good for us as it seems. From loaded baked sweet potatoes to sweet potato pie, they’ve become as ubiquitous as their more basic, paler counterparts. So, what’s their deal?

Turns out sweet potatoes actually belong to a different family than potatoes, according to The International Potato Center, since they’re roots that belong to the morning-glory family and not tubers. And they’re definitely not related to similarly-sweet yams, either.

Luckily, the sweet potato's superfood status has been confirmed by many peer-reviewed studies. It’s been touted for healing stomach ulcers, lowering blood pressure, and aiding in weight loss. And best of all? Sweet potatoes taste decadent whether mashed, roasted or baked, requiring little to no seasoning. Nature’s treat, if you will.