Yautia health benefits – When we talk about yautia, what comes to our mind is a plant called Xanthosoma sagittifolium. This plant is usually planted to take tubers, stems and leaves. Yautia is native to Northern South America, and is now widely cultivated throughout the world.
Its local names are called Taro, Arrowleaf Elephant’s Ear, Lephant Ears, Barbados Nut Eddoe, Cocoyam, ENew Cocoyam, Green Arrow Elephant Ears, Malanga, Yannia Leaf Spinach, Tannia, Uyautia, Yellow Yautia, Yautia, Yellow Ocumo and Yautia Tannia.
Taro or yautia is a plant that prefers to live in tropical and sub-tropical climates with good drainage. The roots of this plant are tuberous 36 fibrous.
History of Yautia
The plant by the name of Yautia originates from the United States of America and later spread to Mesoamerica and the Caribbean and is subsequently known in Asia, Africa and the Pacific region.
First of all, Yautia is cultivated in America, a tropical climate. In the mid 1800s it spread to Africa. Yautia plants are also cultivated in the Philippines, and are very popular in Cuba and Puerto Rico.
Taro or yautia is considered the oldest root plant that was brought to Marshall Island during the Japanese administration.
Yautia Nutritional Value
Yautia is a plant in the taro family, but it is a plant that is loaded with nutrients. Who would have thought in one cup 135 grams contains 132 calories.
These tubers store many nutrients such as minerals, vitamins, and lipids. Furthermore, the same portion also contained 0.347 mg of copper, 0.32 mg of iron, 0.251 manganese and 0.131 mg of vitamin B1.
From the nutritional content like that, it is natural that yautia has great health benefits. Next we will see some of Yautia health benefits as reported from reliable sources.
Amazing Health Benefits of Yautia
Among the minerals and vitamins in yautia are copper, vitamin B6, potassium, carbohydrates, and iron. Yautia is a low-risk allergy food, so it is included in the list of healthy foods for allergy sufferers.
Consuming Taro (yautia) can increase energy, maintain blood sugar levels and maintain intestinal health thanks to high fiber in the tubers and maintain blood pressure.
1. Thyroid problems
Copper is useful as a natural ingredient in balancing thyroid levels, copper works with other minerals such as potassium, calcium and zinc.
The benefits of yautia can also prevent health problems such as hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. One of the strengths can cause thyroid problems that will lead to weight loss or weight gain, fatigue, loss of appetite and other bad symptoms.
2. Brain health
Gakatosa and dopamine levels are influenced by copper. Copper relates to its benefits with energy, good mood, focus and outlook.
If copper is reduced in the body, the body will experience fatigue, low metabolic activity, bad mood and problems related to concentration.
Copper in the body will utilize antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase, tyrosinase, Vitamin C and ascorbate oxidase to prevent brain damage from free radicals and will slow the aging process.
Also read; Taro Chips – Tempting Crunchy Snack
3. Promote the mood
Furthermore, the Yautia health benefits is maintain a good mood. the content of vitamin B6 in Taro or yautia influences the production of GABA neurotransmitters and affects the production of serotonin in the brain.
This hormone is useful for maintaining mood and preventing fatigue, anxiety, pain and depression. In general, the benefits of vitamin B6 are preventing mood disorders.
Vitamin B6 in yautia is also useful for producing hormones that are good for the brain, thus preventing brain diseases, and mood disorders.
4. Cure anemia
Another benefit of vitamin B6 in yautia is treating anemia. Vitamin B6 is useful for producing hemoglobin in the blood, red blood is useful for menstruating oxygen throughout the body and helping move iron.
Anemia is a health condition that occurs due to lack of iron in the intake.
The effects of lack of iron cause headaches, fatigue and pain. If the intake of vitamin B6 is sufficient, the symptoms of anemia will decrease and even disappear.
5. Good for blood vessels
Vitamin B6 contained in Yautia helps regulate homocysteine levels in the bloodstream. The high content of homocysteine in the body causes inflammation, heart disease, diseases related to blood vessels and heart attacks.
The body that is deficient in vitamin B6, if homocysteine develops, it can cause damage to blood vessels and this can cause heart attacks and strokes.
6. Heart ailments
The potassium content in yautia is useful for balancing blood circulation, heart rate rhythm, and blood pressure. Research shows that a diet rich in sodium, low in potassium, can cause hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and high blood pressure.
When potassium joins with other minerals such as calcium, magnesium, it can prevent liquid buildup in cells.
when a person is deficient in potassium, then what is felt is chest pain, irregular heart rhythm, or can even cause cardiac arrest.
See too: Ube Vs Taro – What’s The Difference?
7. Kidney ailments
High potassium intake can reduce the formation of kidney stones. Kidney stone formation occurs due to lack of potassium. This is inversely proportional to calcium.
When calcium is excessive and potassium is low, calcium is excreted in urine passing through the kidneys. In fact, kidney stones are the result of reduced calcium deposits in the urine to fight kidney problems.
8. Pregnancy
The next Yautia health benefits is that it prevents the deficiency of red blood cells and is very good for pregnant women.
If a pregnant woman lacks iron or is anemic, it is more likely to occur premature birth with various health problems that occur in infants.
Research shows that adequate iron intake can prevent the risk of preterm birth compared to those with iron deficiency.
9. Increase body immunity
Yautia is also rich in vitamin B1 which is useful for giving color to the muscles of the digestive tract. The digestive tract is in charge of absorbing nutrients from food so that the absorption of vitamin B1, and this is good for boosting immunity later.
Another benefit of vitamin B1 is that it helps the secretion of hydrochloric acid and this is very important in improving digestive health.
Also see: 15+ Bamboo Leaves Benefits and Side Effects
10. Yautia Health Benefits for Removing Toxins
The task of the kidneys is to remove organic molecules from the blood. Kidney is very important function in removing toxins from the body.
The digestive organs and kidneys really need electrolytes such as potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, and stabilize sodium, fat, and water in the body.
Uses Traditionally
- Large yautia leaves are used as a fever remedy in the peninsula area of Malaysia
- The sap is used to heal wounds, this is a Palawan habit, also used as an insect repellent.
- In the Amazon area, Yautia leaf is used as a snake bite medicine.
Warning:
- Yautia sap can irritate the skin
- Yautia leaves have Calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate the mouth and throat.
How to Eat Yautia
One question that is often asked about yautia is how to eat it, how to eat the right yautia. This is a root vegetable that is rarely consumed, so it is natural for many to ask how to eat it.
How to eat yautia is easy, you have to peel the skin first. Cut the Yautia tubers into cubes. Soak in cold water to reduce starch. Yautia can be consumed by boiling, steaming or roasting.
Now it is widely used as a raw material for the manufacture of chips known as Taro chips.
Another name for Yautia
Yautia is also known by several other names such as: cocoyam, big taro root, eddo, Japanese potato, tannia, and others. This plant is a plant of the taro family that has large roots.
The outside is mottled and brown to reddish in color, while the inside is cream, pale, yellow, and some even purple.
