Rich in antioxidants

Purple yams include antioxidants such as anthocyanins and vitamin C. Antioxidants help protect your cells from the dangerous chemicals known as free radicals. Free radical damage has been related to a variety of chronic diseases, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and neurological illnesses. Purple yams are high in vitamin C, which functions as an antioxidant in the body.

In fact, studies have shown that increasing your vitamin C intake can boost your antioxidant levels by up to 35%, protecting you from oxidative cell damage. Purple yam anthocyanins are a form of polyphenol antioxidant. Eating polyphenol-rich fruits and vegetables on a regular basis has been associated with a decreased risk of numerous forms of cancer. One research indicated that eating cyanidin reduced tumors by up to 45 percent in animals, while another test-tube study discovered that it delayed the development of human cancer cells. However, these experiments utilized high concentrations of cyanidin and peonidin. As a result, consuming entire purple yams is unlikely to have the same advantages.