9 Delicious Ways to Fight Arthritis- Way 6

Sweet potatoes.

These tropical root vegetables (which, technically, not related to white baking potatoes) are such a nutritional powerhouse, they once topped a list of vegetables ranked according to nutritional value by the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Sweet potatoes are a rich source of vitamin C, folate, vitamin B6, and dietary fiber, among other nutrients.


Buy fresh. Though you'll benefit from eating sweet potatoes in any form, fresh potatoes are better than canned products, which are packed in a heavy syrup that leaches the vegetable's most valuable nutrients, including vitamins B and C.


Keep cool, not cold. Store sweet potatoes someplace dark, dry, and cool -- preferably between 55 and 60 degrees -- but not in the refrigerator: Cold temperatures damage cells, causing the potato to harden and lose some of its nutritional value.


Maximize nutrients. Eat cooked potatoes with their skin -- an especially rich source of nutrients and fiber. Handle gently to avoid bruising, then bake or boil, and serve with a touch of fat from butter, oil, or another dish and some salt and pepper.