A part of the starchy vegetables food subgroup -- a classification that also includes potatoes and lima beans -- sweet potatoes make a welcome addition to a balanced diet. They come loaded with beneficial fiber, manganese, copper and potassium to help support your health. Sweet potatoes also serve as excellent sources of vitamin A and provide smaller amounts of other essential vitamins.

Vitamin A

Sweet potatoes owe their rich orange hue to beta-carotene, a nutrient that your body converts to vitamin A 1. Just a single 1-cup serving of sweet potatoes -- a serving roughly equivalent to one 5-inch sweet potato -- contains 18,869 international units of vitamin A, or more than your entire daily vitamin A needs. Your body uses vitamin A to control gene activity, a process central to cell growth, and to maintain healthy vision. Including sweet potatoes in your diet fights vitamin A deficiency, a condition associated with night blindness.

Vitamin B-5

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Include sweet potatoes in your diet, and you'll also consume more vitamin B-5, or pantothenic acid 4. Each cup of sweet potatoes boasts 1.06 milligrams of pantothenic acid, which contributes 21 percent toward your recommended daily B-5 intake 4. Your body uses vitamin B-5 to make steroid hormones -- a hormone family that includes progesterone, testosterone and estrogen -- as well as cholesterol. It also aids in the production of myelin, a component of healthy nerve tissue, and plays a role in cell communication.

Vitamin B-6

Sweet potatoes also provide a moderate amount of vitamin B-6 1. The vitamin B-6 in your system helps you produce glucose -- the primary source of fuel for your brain -- and activates enzymes needed for cellular metabolism. Getting enough vitamin B-6 also supports oxygen circulation because it aids in the development of oxygen-transporting red blood cells. A cup of sweet potatoes provides you with 278 micrograms of vitamin B-6, or 21 percent of your recommended daily intake.

Serving Tips and Suggestions

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Sweet potatoes' starchy texture stands up well to baking and roasting. Try chopping sweet potatoes into cubes, coat them lightly with a mixture of olive oil and cayenne pepper and then roast until tender for a healthful side dish. Cut sweet potatoes into wedges and bake to make oven "fries." Alternatively, you can bake sweet potatoes whole -- try topping them with cottage cheese and steamed vegetables for a protein-packed side dish.