Do you still believe that sweet potato leaves, known as \"longevity vegetables,\" are a \"cancer-fighting wonder”?

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Beijing, People’s Daily Online, January 11 – Following preliminary evaluations by experts and big data analysis, 20 rumors were shortlisted for the “Top 10 ‘Scientific’ Rumors” category in the “Praising Science Popularization in China 2018” campaign; the rumor that sweet potato leaves can prevent cancer is one of them. In recent years, a \"sweet potato leaf craze\" has emerged in Europe, the United States, Japan, and other places, with foods made from sweet potato leaves being served on the tables of hotels and restaurants. Sweet potato leaves are one of the commonly eaten vegetables in Bama County, Guangxi – a county renowned for its long-lived residents in China – and are also known as “longevity vegetables”. It is said that sweet potato leaves are highly nutritious; they can help detoxify the body, boost immunity, prevent high blood pressure, relieve constipation, alleviate symptoms of menopause, and prevent anemia. The polyphenols contained in them have remarkable anti-cancer effects as well. Is that really the case? In fact, the so-called \"polyphenols preventing cancer\" concept is derived from cell experiments; it does not mean that consuming polyphenols can prevent cancer. Similar to antioxidants, sweet potato leaves contain a relatively high amount of polyphenols, but this level is not higher than that found in various green vegetables, tea, coffee, and other foods and beverages. As a vegetable, sweet potato leaves indeed have an excellent nutritional profile; as part of a varied diet, they are a truly \"outstanding\" vegetable. However, it is no panacea, nor does it have any miraculous effects. The benefits of any single food ingredient should not be exaggerated, as the value of food lies in the combination of various nutrients. This article has been scientifically reviewed by the expert team led by Fan Zhihong, an associate professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Safety at the College of Food Science, China Agricultural University.