In the cold winter months, one of the most enticing treats is roasted sweet potatoes sold on the street—the warmth from the vendor’s hands and breath seems to radiate through your body, filling you with joy. This snack is much healthier than other options like grilled cold noodles, skewered items, or grilled sausages.

However, sweet potatoes aren’t limited to being a street snack. They are at the top of the food chain and are considered by many as a food that can truly prevent and fight cancer. What’s really going on here?

The reason is that in the survey of 260,000 people by Japanese researchers, after comparing various vegetables and their responses against cancer cells, the most effective one turned out to be the sweet potato. It topped the list in terms of its cancer-fighting ability, reportedly capable of eliminating 98.7% of cancer cells. Is that really true?

I’m sure you’ve seen plenty of cancer-fighting food rankings in your daily life and even consider the foods on those lists as daily meal options. But some people wonder—for example, if sweet potatoes can really fight cancer, why do so many people still develop cancer or other illnesses? That’s a question worth discussing!

According to the analysis of sweet potatoes conducted by researchers at Japan’s National Cancer Prevention Institute, experiments revealed that sweet potatoes contain a component called deoxyepiandrosterone, most of which exists in the human body in the form of a sulfuric acid conjugate. Its physiological functions are quite potent.

However, deoxyepiandrosterone levels increase with age, and particularly when people reach their 80s, its level can drop to a minimum. This decrease leads to central nervous system disorders, weakened immunity, slowed lipid metabolism, and other issues.

Regarding its biological effects, relevant epidemiological findings indicate that deoxyepiandrosterone can modulate the body’s immune response, improve blood lipid health, protect the cardiovascular system, alleviate negative emotions, and prevent osteoporosis.

Yet, the benefits mentioned above are limited to the intake of this specific substance derived from sweet potatoes—they do not mean that simply eating sweet potatoes can directly prevent cancer. No one has discovered that consuming any food can truly act as a cure-all against cancer in real life, so there’s no need to resort to superstition.

At the end of the day, a sweet potato is just a sweet potato—nothing magical will happen:

In terms of nutritional value, every 100 grams of sweet potato is rich in vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin E, carotene, fiber, iron, potassium, as well as phosphorus, magnesium, selenium, calcium, and other components.

These nutrients can also be found in other foods. If sweet potatoes stand out, it is perhaps because of their high overall vitamin A content and carotene. Consumed in moderation during winter, they can help improve vision, reduce eye strain, and prevent myopia—making them a staple in your diet.