May help lower blood pressure

High blood pressure is a leading cause of heart attacks and strokes. Purple yams have been shown to reduce blood pressure. Researchers believe this is due to their high antioxidant content. According to test-tube research, purple yams contain antioxidants that may help decrease blood pressure in a similar way to standard blood-pressure-lowering drugs known as angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors).

Another research in test tubes found that the antioxidants in purple yams might inhibit the conversion of angiotensin 1 to angiotensin 2, a chemical linked to high blood pressure. While these findings are encouraging, they were acquired in a laboratory. The more human study is needed to determine whether eating purple yams helps decrease blood pressure.