Yucca

We love discovering new products and foods that can enrich our kitchen and our body. The yucca It is a popular product that you probably know by sight, but have not dared to use.

Yucca is a very popular plant, more than 800 million people consume it, rich in carbohydrates, it provides a lot of energy. In addition, it is versatile in the kitchen and can help you improve your health.

Cassava it is also known as cassava or casava, a plant native to Northeast Brazil, moved to the rest of Latin America, Asia, Africa, India, the Philippines and Taiwan. It crossed borders and triumphed wherever it was cultivated.

What is yucca

It has been cultivated for more than 4.000 years and today it is the seventh most important and widespread crop in the world.

It is mainly grown and consumed in South America, although it is also found frequently in Africa and Asia. the consumption of cassava is key to many traditional dishes of tropical countries. The variety that is most consumed is sweet cassava, so its flavor is reminiscent of sweet potato.

In Africa, it is cultivated both to supply the physical needs of the population but also to enrich themselves thanks to its exports, around 300 million people benefit. 

Cassava is a bush you can get the 3 meters high. With long roots, its skin or shell is woody and is not consumed. The interior color is white or yellowish, it depends on the variety of the yucca. A tuber of the Euphorbiaceae family, with cassava you get tapioca.

A food similar to potato, since in matters of nutrition are quite similar, although in terms of appearance and flavor it is more similar to sweet potatoes.

What is cassava for?

From a nutritional point of view we emphasize that it is very rich in carbohydrates, therefore, it is a food with a great energy contribution. It is designed for a balanced diet, it is digested slowly and is very satiating.

Its consumption is recommended for the most athletes or for people who have jobs where there is greater physical and mental exhaustion. It is a perfect food for anyone, that is, both children and the elderly, can benefit from all its qualities. It is also recommended a regular consumption as it helps in the correct development and growth of children and adolescents. 

It is easy to digest, therefore, all those people who tend to suffer from constipation, heartburn, gastritis or burning, they can consume it without fear of suffering stomach pains.

In addition, it is a suitable food for all those people with a gluten intolerance, because its texture is thick and satiating. It can be an alternative to the piece of bread that accompanies meals.

Yucca benefits

Next we will show you what are the best benefits that this tuber can bring us.

• Recommended food for all those who seek Lose Weight. It is a low-fat product, provides a large amount of protein, is satiating and gives a lot of energy. 100 grams provides 120 calories. 
• It is easily digestible. 
• Levels of cholesterol, balances blood pressure in blood. Perfect for those suffering from hypertension.
• Antioxidant properties, so it reduces the negative action on the body of free radicals.
• High doses of fiber help you avoid occasional constipation. It fights irritable bowel and lowers triglyceride levels.
• It is beneficial for maintaining good bone structure, this is due to vitamin K. In addition, it has anti-inflammatory properties, so it can treat arthritis pain, joint pain or muscle pain.
• Great source of vitamins from B Group So take care of the state of your hair and the quality of your skin, preventing pimples from appearing.
• We highlight the presence of zinc, magnesium and copper minerals that provide a lot of energy to the body.
• It benefits the nervous system, helps us feel more relaxed, avoid anxiety and stressful situations.
• It can help our memory, so it never hurts to consume it when a person suffers from Alzheimer's.

Healing properties

There are properties medicinal and curative, then we will count them. However, we want to emphasize that the consumption of cassava in its raw state is toxic to humans, because it concentrates cyanhydric acid, which is not metabolized properly and can give rise to acetone and cyanide.

It is recommended that before consumption se wash the tuber thoroughly and peel it well for later consumption.

• Fight osteoporosis. Vitamin K It helps to maintain and preserve good bone mass, which is why its consumption is recommended for the elderly in the house. On the other hand, this vitamin is a powerful blood coagulant, thus avoiding bleeding. Ideal for diabetic people.
• Combat colitis pictures. Reduces the appearance of diarrhea. It exerts an astringent function and keeps the colon stable and not irritated.
• It is detoxifying. It is ideal for cleansing and purifying the body. It literally cleans our interior, it takes care of cleaning the villi of the small intestine, so the digestive tract, blood and body are in perfect condition.
• It is anti-inflammatory.
• Decreases the number of triglycerides. By having a great contribution of fiber, it is possible to reduce triglycerides in the blood. It promotes the activity of digestion and helps to expel toxins and waste.
• Reduce stress Consuming cassava we can control our anxiety, it manages to deflate our nerves and make us feel better, this is achieved thanks to the vitamin B inside.
• It is an antihistamine and natural decongestant. 
• It favors the correct circulation of the blood. This prevents us from suffering from thrombi in the body, thrombosis and vascular accidents.

Contraindications

We always recommend that natural foods or supplements are consumed in a healthy way and never in excess. Since no matter how healthy a food is, we should not abuse them.

In this case, cassava is beneficial and safeHowever, yucca extracts can cause stomach pain, nausea, or mouth irritation.

An overdose of cCassava root consumption, on the other hand, can cause diarrhea. In the yucca extract all its properties are concentrated in a higher way, therefore, only It is recommended a consumption of 2 to 4 grams daily and divided into 3 doses. 

How do you prepare

There are different ways to consume cassava. We can find it fresh in the supermarket, since its consumption has spread to all countries. On the other hand, in natural product stores, you can find it in tea extracts from its root.

Most common eat it cooked, and for this it must be cleaned, peeled and washed again. We find different ways to prepare it:

• Boiled: in the same way as the sweet potato or the potato, it can be cut and put in a pot with boiling water. A) Yes you will get a cooked cassava ideal for mashing or in whole pieces. 
• Fries: it can be cut in the style of French fries and deep-fried. Its flavor is delicious and it is perfect to vary our recipes and give them another touch.
• Cassava flour: in other cases you can find it in the form of flour. Perfect for making crepes, pancakes, cakes or cakes.

Its flavor is smooth and very versatile. It can be used in a multitude of recipes, both in salty recipes like sweets. As a main dish or as a side dish. Always think of it as if it were a potato or a sweet potato, so you will never go wrong in the way you cook it.