Taro

Taro

Other Names : Colocasia esculenta, dasheen, eddo, kalo, Cocoyam
Taro has been a staple of the Polynesian diet for over one thousand years. The heart-shaped leaves, called lu'au, were the inspiration for the Hawaiian celebration of the same name. You cannot eat taro in raw form because its high calcium oxalate content makes it toxic. As a starchy vegetable, cooked taro is often used as a substitute for the potato.
See also : Cocoyam leaves

Special Precautions of Taro

• You cannot eat taro in raw form because its high calcium oxalate content makes it toxic.
• You should talk to your doctor before increasing the potassium in your diet. As you get older, the kidneys cannot remove potassium from your blood as efficiently as when you were younger. High levels of blood potassium can be dangerous.

Benefits and uses of Taro are

Like other tubers, it is not only high in potassium and fiber, but also contains a significant amount of vitamin E, making the taro a healthy food to add to your diet.

• High In Fiber : Fiber is an essential nutrient that offers a number of health benefits including reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease, helping you manage your weight and improving bowel movements. Most Americans consume about 15 g of fiber a day, according to the American Dietetic Association, but need 25 to 30 g a day. A 1-cup serving of cooked taro contains 6.7 g of fiber, meeting approximately 25 percent of your daily fiber needs.
• High in Vitamin E : Cooked taro is also high in vitamin E with 3.87 mg in a 1-cup serving. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin best known for its antioxidant activity, protecting cells from oxidation by free radicals. Including foods rich in antioxidants may offer protection against heart disease and certain types of cancer. Adults need 15 mg of vitamin E a day. A 1-cup serving of cooked taro meets 25 percent of your daily vitamin E needs.
• Potassium-Rich : A 1-cup serving of cooked taro contains 639 mg of potassium. When included as part of a healthy diet, foods high in potassium can help control blood pressure. A healthy diet should include 4,700 mg of potassium a day, according to the American Heart Association. One serving of cooked taro meets 13 percent of your daily potassium needs. You should talk to your doctor before increasing the potassium in your diet. As you get older, the kidneys cannot remove potassium from your blood as efficiently as when you were younger. High levels of blood potassium can be dangerous.
• Good Source of Magnesium : Including taro in your diet can help you meet your magnesium needs. A 1-cup serving of cooked taro contains 40 mg of magnesium. Magnesium is needed for bone health, muscle and nerve function and immune health. It also helps keep your blood pressure normal and regulates your blood sugar. Adult men need 400 to 420 mg of magnesium a day, and adult women need 310 to 320 mg a day. One serving of taro meets 10 percent of the daily value for magnesium.
• Lowers Blood Pressure : Satoimo root has elevated levels of Potassium, which manages blood pressure level as well as reduces the chance of hypertension. This really is extremely good for those people who are advanced in years or even are otherwise in a greater risk of creating hypertensive tendencies.
• Free from gluten : They’re free of gluten and also have a top quality Phyto-nutrition profile which includes dietary fiber as well as anti-oxidants.
• Lesser Cardio Diseases : Since Taro has got really small amount of fat with no cholesterol, it lowers the chance of Cardio illnesses. It is because these things generally result in the arteries to thicken as well as hinder within the efficient blood circulation, which frequently results in heart attack. Therefore, any person who is ingesting Taro faces smaller chance of such diseases.
• Stronger Immune System : Taro is abundant with Vitamin C; this particular vitamin has got anti-oxidants that really help to combat free-radicals in the body, avoiding us from daily illnesses just like common cold or even fever. Taro can also be abundant with Vitamin B6 that fortifies the immune system of our body, making the body much less susceptible to illnesses.
• Reduces Weight Gain : Anyone who is dieting, you need to include Taro in your daily diet list. It is because this particular vegetable has hardly any fat, which will help to avoid putting on weight.
• Low Sodium : Anybody who is attempting to cut back sodium consumption, Taro is exactly what you’ll need! It is because this vegetable just fulfills 1 % of the everyday sodium necessity. Excessive sodium could be unhealthy for the health because it leads to kidney difficulties, high blood pressure and may harm the blood cells within our body.
• Rich in Dietary Fiber : Taro satisfies 27 % in our daily dietary fiber; this is extremely therapeutic for the body. Dietary fiber decreases the chance of Colon cancer; helps prevent bowel problems and may also reduce the amount of bad cholesterol within our body.
• Low Glycemic Index Food : Taro Root is really a low glycemic index food which means it reduces into glucose within the liver very gradually therefore turning it into ideal for weight loss as well as for reducing blood sugar too making ideal for diabetics. And in addition it works miracles for those along with hypoglycemia since it provides long-lasting energy for a long time. And since it provides long lasting power you don’t appear to get hungry… therefore you shed weight. Taro Root includes lots of fiber that can help you sense full and in addition helps you shed weight.
• Amino Acids and Omega 3 oils : Taro Root consists of over 17 various amino acids which are essential for sustaining a healthy body, and in addition it includes life giving Omega 3 as well as 6 oils that are essential for cardio health, cancer prevention, as well as for avoiding disease generally.
• Reduces Fatigue : Taro Root due to its reduced glycemic index is an excellent food for athletes… along with long lasting energy with no spikes in glucose.
• Anti-Aging Effects : The Japanese sweet taro includes a higher concentration of Hyaluronic Acid, that is a essential component in cell regeneration. This particular plant is usually known as “nature’s odd fountain of youth” because of its high HA content.
• Other Benefits : Taro Root likewise helps with irritability, reduces blood pressure, helps prevent cell damage, helps you to safeguard from colds and flues, aids in skin rashes, nausea, as well as aids you to control cholesterol, builds strong bones, as well as supports thyroid function.