More and more we are seeing sweet potatoes in our pet's food. Sweet potatoes are considered one of the world's healthiest foods. Be careful not to confuse yams with sweet potatoes as they are not the same thing.

A lot of times when customers see sweet potatoes in pet food they assume the food is higher in sugar. Compared to regular potatoes, sweets potatoes rank relatively low on the GL scale. They are packed with nutrients and disease-fighting fiber (almost 40 percent of which is soluble fiber, the kind that helps lower blood sugar and cholesterol) makes them a better alternative to white potatoes.

Sweet Potatoes are a root vegetable which have an excellent source of vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene), a very good source of vitamin C and manganese, and a good source of copper, dietary fiber, vitamin B6, potassium and iron.

Sweet potatoes have healing properties as an antioxidant food. Both beta-carotene and vitamin C are very powerful antioxidants that work in the body to eliminate free radicals. Free radicals are chemicals that damage cells and cell membranes and are associated with the development of conditions like atherosclerosis, diabetic heart disease, and colon cancer. This may explain why beta-carotene and vitamin C have both been shown to be helpful for preventing these conditions.

Since these nutrients are also anti-inflammatory, they can be helpful in reducing the severity of conditions where inflammation plays a role, such as asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

In my opinion, the sweet potatoes we get in our dry kibble can have some benefits, but not to the extent of adding some fresh, cooked sweet potatoes. Steaming (not boiling) would be the best at retaining nutrition then baking. There are some concerns to baking the sweet potatoes as it releases phytic acid, which can sometimes block absorption of desirable nutrients like zinc and iron. Sweet potatoes keep for a month if you keep them cool but not cold (don't put them in the fridge).

If your pets suffer from kidney or gallbladder problems, it is not recommended that they do not eat sweet potatoes. As with any food, your pet should not be on any one thing for a long period of time. Adding a sweet potato to you pet's diets several times per week could be beneficial.