What is Taro and what are its Benefits? Taro is a vegetable used in various cuisines all over the world. It has a delicate nutty flavor, potato-like texture and nutritional value, making it a healthier alternative to other root vegetables.
What is taro? and what are its benefits?
Contents:
- About taro
- What is taro
- How to use taro
- How to include taro in your diet
- Taro - health benefits
- Improved digestion
- Blood sugar management
- Heart health
- Nutrition
About Taro:
Taro, scientifically known as Colocasia esculenta, is a plant grown in the tropics of Asia and the Americas, but also in some Mediterranean countries.
Taro is one of the eldest, cultivated plant food in the world, taro is also known by different types of names, like Arbi, dasheen and eddoes. Different strains can be used interchangeably and bring the same nutritional benefits to your diet.
What is Taro?
It has a brown color on the outside, white flesh and purple spots everywhere. The taste becomes slightly sweet when cooked and the texture is similar to potatoes.
Taro root is usually added to salty or fried foods as a snack but can add a creamy sweetness and purple color to recipes.
Taro - health benefits:
Taro is rich in nutrients that can bring important health benefits. One serving of a cup has a third of the recommended daily intake of manganese, which contributes to good metabolism, bone health and blood clotting.
Its high vitamin levels can also promote healthy vision, healthy skin, strengthens blood circulation and improves immune system function.
Along with this, taro roots offer many other health benefits, some of them are as follows:
Improves digestion:
Taro root has double amount of fiber as compared to potatoes. Dietary fiber improves digestive function and can relieve problems such as constipation, diarrhea, stomach ulcers and acid reflux.
As studies has shown that fiber travels slowly through the digestive system as compared to other nutrients, studies also show that this makes you feel fuller between the meals, helping you with healthy weight management.
Blood sugar management:
The carbohydrate content of taro root is what is called resistant starch. Clinical studies have shown that these good carbohydrates stabilize blood sugar, which helps manage weight and can reduce the risk of diabetes. These starches are also suitable for low-carb diets and keto.
Heart health:
There are high levels of potassium in the root of taro, a mineral that helps control high blood pressure by breaking down excess salt. It reduces stress on the cardiovascular system and helps prevent the development of chronic heart problems.
Nutrition:
Taro root is an excellent source of dietary fiber and good carbohydrates, which improve the function of the digestive system and can contribute to a healthy weight loss.
Taro has high levels of vitamin C, vitamin B6 and vitamin E which also helps us to maintain a very healthy immune system and can eliminate different types of free radicals.
Taro root is low in calories and although it is rich in carbohydrates, it is a stable starch that promotes the work of healthy gut and intestines.
How to use taro?
Taro root should never be eaten raw. This vegetable contains a bitter-tasting compound called calcium oxalate. This can cause itching in the mouth and throat if eaten raw but is safe to eat when cooked.
Choose a taro root it depends on the purpose for which you want to use it. Larger varieties have a stronger aroma, while smaller roots have more moisture. A ready-to-eat root is firm, spotless and feels heavy for its size.
To precook the taro root, use a knife to remove the thick peel under running water. Use gloves to protect your skin from irritation that is caused by uncooked calcium oxalate.
Taro root is very versatile. You can boil it, fry it, stifle it or bake it to prepare it in a variety of recipes.
Taro root leaves can also be cooked and used as spinach to add more vitamins and antioxidants to the meal.
How to include taro in your diet:
- French fries from taro root. Cut the vegetables into sticks and fry them in an oil bath. Drain excess oil well and salt.
- Grate the root to add it to the pancake composition.
- Add taro root powder to milk for a sweet snack.
- Make taro chips by cutting thin pieces of the root just like you make potato chips.
- Use taro flour to make sweets and purple cakes
- Serve fried taro with meat like pork ribs to absorb excess fat.
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