There are so many health benefits of Tapioca and that’s including the ability to increase red blood cell production, improve circulation and healthy weight gain, lower cholesterol, and many more.
After the proper cooking process, tapioca can be eaten in the natural form or you can also eat them in various culinary forms like pellets, flakes, and pearls. Those forms can be used in a wide variety of desserts.
The health benefits of tapioca are known in the whole world and they are used as a thickening agent in jams and soups, as well as to create healthy gluten free cakes and pies.
Tapioca’s function is abundant, along with the healthy advantages which you can find out more about here.
What is Tapioca?
Tapioca is a tasty starch extract that is derived directly from the cassava plant. The most common use is for tapioca pudding; however the plant elements can also being used for certain things like snacks and sweet candy.
The useful part of cassava plant is the root where the tapioca is derived from, and nowadays the plant has been enjoyed globally in various countries thanks to the beneficial functions and nutrients.
Tapioca is native in South America, particularly Northeastern Brazil, where it’s well-known as “cassava”, while other countries call it “manihot”, “manioc”, and “yuca”.
The characteristics of cassava plant is that the root is usually 1 to 2 pounds in weight and appears elongated, rough, and brown in color.
The flesh of the tuber has a white color and it contains high levels of carbohydrates. The white flesh has a sweet flavor, but it can be consumed after proper cooking only.
As for the tapioca, it belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae and is scientifically named Manihot esculenta.
Spanish and Portuguese explorers first brought the plant back to Europe from South America, and it’s become widely famous among people and in the end spread throughout Africa, the West Indies, and Asia.
Although it’s not commonly cultivated in America, tapioca is largely enjoyed there, especially with the fact that it can be consumed as a gluten free product.
In addition, tapioca can also be used as a thickening agent to replace wheat-based fillers and is preferred by those who suffer from celiac disease.
An important note is that the tubers contain a high level of toxicity, which is why you should only eat it if it’s prepared properly from a trusted source.
If not, the tubers can be dangerous and poisonous. Avoid cultivating and consuming tapioca grown in the wild unless you are properly trained as an expert.
15 Health Benefits of Tapioca
Before we list some of the health benefits of tapioca, let’s find out the nutritional values which make tapioca such a wonderful and healthy food to be consumed.
First, tapioca is low in cholesterol, saturated fat, and sodium, thus it can be eaten as a part of your diet. In addition, it also contains small amounts of fiber, with high protein and good cholesterol.
Tapioca provides B vitamins including essential properties like B6, folate acid, and pantothenic acid. Tapioca is rich in minerals as well, like iron, copper, manganese, calcium and selenium.
1 cup of tapioca is packed with almost 45 percent of the daily recommended intake of carbohydrates.
Now, perhaps your question of why tapioca can bring many health benefits to the human body has been answered. And check these amazing health benefits of tapioca below:
1. Strengthen The Bones
We already mentioned above that tapioca contains a high amount of calcium and iron, which are both great sources to improve strong bones. They can help to protect the bones from damage as you start aging.
Bone density can be maintained, which is why illnesses like osteoporosis can be prevented. Additionally, eating tapioca regularly in moderate amounts is also great because it provides energy.
2. Improve Digestion
Digestive health is always related to fiber, because these two elements cannot be separated. And since tapioca provides a small amount of fiber, it can be consumed to maintain and support a healthy digestive system.
Tapioca is also easy to digest, and thus it can improve and soothe the system. It can help to prevent digestion problems like bloating and constipation.
In fact, tapioca can prevent colorectal disease by maintain the health of the digestive system.
3. Help to Keep You Feeling Full
People commonly consume wheat-contained foods to make themselves full, however, wheat contains gluten. Since tapioca is free from gluten, this makes it a better option.
Tapioca is rich in carbohydrates, so it can be eaten to make yourself full without stuffing your stomach with gluten. And for those who are on a weight loss diet, you do not need to be worried when eating tapioca because it contains zero cholesterol.
4. Helps to Increase Blood Circulation
Again, because of the iron provided by tapioca, it can help to prevent iron-deficiency diseases such as anemia. The iron will help to improve red blood cell production, hence, anemia, which is the lack of red blood cells, can be prevented effectively.
In addition, the health benefits of tapioca from the iron content also lead to better blood circulation.
5. Boosting Energy
Feeling weak and fatigued can happen to many people. This is not an illness, but there are some other symptoms that can occur which indicate certain diseases.
To boost their energy, people love to consume sugary, calorie-packed foods and drinks. But, for those who do not want to add more calories and fats into their body, they can depend on tapioca.
Tapioca has zero cholesterol but is high in carbohydrates, so it’s one of the best options to boost your energy without adding too many fats and calories.
And because of the fiber, it can help to make you feel full, reduce cravings, and lower your appetite. If you want to recharge your energy then eat tapioca!
6. Helps to Gain Some Weight
While some people often struggle to lose some weight, there are other people who want to gain more weight. Both being overweight and underweight are bad, since both of them can lead to diseases.
If you do not want to take supplements to gain weight, then there is a more natural way that you can do so. Thanks to the high amount of carbohydrates, tapioca can help you to gain weight without increasing the bad cholesterol in your body.
You do not need to put too much effort into gaining weight with this amazing solution.
7. Lower Birth Defects
Children born with defects can be traumatic for the parents, so they need to prevent it if possible.
Tapioca contains a significant amount of vitamin B-complex and folic acid, which can help to support infant development in pregnant women. Birth defects can be lowered or prevented.
This is why tapioca is a good choice for pregnant women, thanks to the health benefits of tapioca cassava plant.
8. Support Healthy Brain
Vitamin K is not only great for our bones, but it also an excellent vitamin for a healthy brain. It helps to stimulate neuronal activity, so the risk of Alzheimer’s can be reduced.
As you get older the lack of brain activity can lead to Alzheimer’s, and vitamin K will protect the brain tissues while fighting against free radicals and supporting the activity of neural pathways.
9. Support Muscle Growth
The high amount of protein in tapioca helps to improve muscle density, and with frequent consumption in moderate amounts, some muscle-related problems can also be prevented.
Tapioca is a great solution for those who do not want to eat fish or meat but suffer from a lack of protein. Tapioca is not only cheaper but also easily eaten, while filling your body with enough protein.
10. Treating Fatigue
Eating tapioca to treat fatigue is a good, natural thing to do because tapioca contains iron. Iron supports hemoglobin production in your body, and a lack of red blood cells will make you feel weak and fatigued.
When you feel exhausted or tired, you can eat tapioca to boost your energy and prevent fatigue. However, tapioca has only a small amount of iron, so it is not recommended to depend solely on tapioca for your daily intake of iron.
11. Treating Temperature, Flu, and Headache
When you are suffering from the flu, a headache, or fever, you can use tapioca as a natural treatment. What you need to do is mix 12 grams of tapioca with water and some sugar. Stir the mixture and drink it.
You can drink this solution three times a day until you feel better. The nutrients and properties provided by tapioca can treat those illnesses.
12. Low in Sodium Content
Sodium is required by your body, although the consumption needs to be limited. Over-consumption of sodium can increase blood pressure and lead to certain illnesses.
Being low in sodium content makes tapioca a good ingredient in dishes or desserts. You can try to cut down the salt in your food to lower the sodium level.
13. Removing Scars, Acne, and Spots
Tapioca can be used to remove the toxins out of your body, and thus it can help to remove scars, acne, and spots. You can either use a tapioca mask or you can drink a tapioca solution to gain the wonderful health benefits of tapioca for skin care.
You just need to make a mixture with 30 grams of tapioca, 20 to 30 grams of green pea powder, water, and some sugar and drink it twice a day.
14. Carrying Oxygen
Iron helps to carry oxygen throughout the body while maintaining healthy blood pressure, and it’s a good solution to support wound healing. That’s why if you have a painful wound and you want it to heal faster, you can consume iron.
Tapioca contains a low level of iron, and thus you can add it into dishes or make desserts and then eat it. You can also combine or mix the tapioca with other iron-rich ingredients including dairy products, whole grains, legumes, and beans.
15. Support Metabolism
Tapioca is one of the healthiest ways to gain protein. While some people prefer to consume meat and fish to get protein, you can try to eat tapioca instead.
It is a new way to help improve the body’s metabolism, which leads to healthier muscle development, supported healing process, and many more.
In conclusion, a couple of the health benefits of tapioca is to support metabolism and be a good meal for vegetarians.
Those are the wonderful health benefits of tapioca, which you can experience directly by properly cooking tapioca and consuming it regularly in moderate amounts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ-eyXBQ2a0
I have also heard that yuca/cassava, especially the leaves, but also the root, can help prevent cancer. You can make little pancakes or tortillas out of cooked yuca root. Just mash up, add an egg, some yuca and plantain flour, some chopped onion, and saute in a pan. Enjoy!