Native to the Asian subcontinent, the starchy and mildly sweet flavor of taro root works well when added to puddings, curries, pestos, and stews. To make things better, it also packs in nutrition. Here are the benefits that taro root provides:
1. Manages Blood Sugar Levels
If you’re trying to keep your blood sugar levels in check, stock up on taro root. A cup packs in 6.7 g of fiber, which makes up for 26.8% of your recommended daily intake, and can’t be digested in the body and, hence, has no impact on blood sugar levels.1 It also slows down the pace of digestion and absorption of other carbs, both of which also prevent large blood sugar spikes after meals. In fact, studies have found that patients with type-2 diabetes can lower their blood sugar levels by up to 10 mg/dl by consuming high-fiber diets.2 3
Taro
id="2">2. May Aid Weight Loss
The fiber and resistant starch in taro might help you meet your weight loss goals. Research has found that people who eat more fiber have lower body weight and fat. This could be because fiber moves slowly through the digestive system, keeping you fuller for longer and reducing the number of calories you eat throughout the day. In addition to this, one study found that men who took a supplement containing 24 grams of resistant starch had lower total body fat and belly fat as compared to those that didn’t.7 8
In addition to this, animal studies have found that rats fed diets high in resistant starch had less total body fat and belly fat. This could be because resistant starch increases fat-burning in your body. That said, further research is needed to fully validate this benefit.9 10
id="3">3. Lowers The Risk Of Heart Disease
The fiber and resistant starch in taro root may also help reduce your risk of heart disease. Research has found that people who eat more fiber tend to have lower rates of heart disease. In particular, it was found that for every additional 10 grams of fiber consumed per day, the risk of dying from heart disease decreased by 17%. This could be due to fiber’s cholesterol-lowering effects. Taro root also contains more than twice the amount of fiber in a cup than what’s found in a comparable 138-gram serving of potatoes, making it an excellent source of fiber. The resistant starch in taro root has also been found to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease.11 12 13 14 15
id="4">4. Boosts Gut Health
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5. May Prevent Cancer
Taro root is packed with plant-based compounds called polyphenols (antioxidants) that may reduce the risk of cancer. One particular polyphenol, named quercetin, can kill cancer cells and slow down the growth of several types of cancer. It might also protect your body from excessive free radical damage that has been linked to cancer. One study linked taro extract with the slowed-growth of some types of breast and prostate cancer cells. However, further research is needed to fully validate this benefit.21 22 23 24 25
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