Yuca Root– Embrace this superfood with open arms

At first glance, Yuca’s physical features can be quite repulsive, but do you know that this superfood is an apt substitute for potatoes? A highly nutritious root loaded heavily with active compounds, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, Yuca can be a powerful immunity booster and a guardian angel to your overall health. This article throws light on the powerful health impact which this root can have on our system when consumed in the right way!

Native to South America, it belongs to the Asparagaceae family. Known as ‘Cassava’ in Hindi  and ‘Maravalli Kilangu’ in Tamil this root is one of the best sources of carbohydrates low in saturated fat cholesterol and sodium, and rich in other essential nutrients because of which it has attained the status of a super food. In other words, it is a nutritional powerhouse with very high medicinal value.
Below is the table representing the nutrients of 100gm of Yuca will contain
(Borrowed)

Calories	156	Sodium	636 mg
Total Fat	4 g	Potassium	236 mg
Saturated	1 g	Total Carbs	17 g
Polyunsaturated	1 g	Dietary Fiber	1 g
Monounsaturated	1 g	Sugars	3 g
Trans	0 g	Protein	13 g
Cholesterol	33 mg
Vitamin A	54%	Calcium	2%
Vitamin C	5%	Iron	8%

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

’Yuca’ is commonly confused with another ornamental plant namely ‘Yucca’ which bears many edible parts but rarely roots. They are both totally different kind of plant species. But Yuca can be interchangeably used with the names like tapioca, manioc or cassava.
Now we shall hop over to its impressive benefits:
Yuca root’s paste can contribute to luscious hair:
The yuca paste, when applied an hour before rinsing your hair, twice a week, can act as an excellent conditioner. It not only hydrates the hair from the root to the tip but also nourishes it well and prevents hair fall. This natural remedy must be considered for all kinds of hair problems. Instead of resorting to chemicals and other artificial means why not utilize this Mother Nature’s precious boon?
Tip # The paste is easy to prepare! Just boil the root which is cut into small chunks, peel it and pound it in a mixer. Your paste is ready!
Yuca root’s peel can make your skin glow:
The peel can form an excellent nourishing agent to your skin. The paste from the peel which we normally discard can be used as a scrub for the skin. Washing with cold water after the application of the paste can yield impressive results in doing away with scars and providing a healthy glow. It can also help to keep the skin soft and supple.
Yuca can help protect your youth:
Early aging signals like formation of wrinkles, fine lines, and dark circles can be kept at bay by the vitamin C present in Yuca. This vitamin can act as a powerful antioxidant which limits the formation of free radicals and protects the cells from oxidative stress. In short, Yuca can help retain your youth for a longer period of time.
Yuca can help you become slim and trim:
Thanks to the fiber content present in this root vegetable that helps to curb hunger for longer periods of time and thus curbing unhealthy snacking at odd hours to a large extent. Also, low in saturated fat and cholesterol, the super food can be your best choice in checking unwanted weight gain.                   
Yuca can help pregnant mothers:
Folic acid present in Yuca can prevent many birth defects of the fetus in the mother’s womb. Also, the vitamin C content of the root vegetable can greatly benefit the health of the unborn child as well as the pregnant mother.
Yuca also has a great impact on the smooth functioning of the digestive system. It also addresses other ailments from cancer which is life-threatening to simple ailments like headaches and diarrhea. Other vital organs like the eyes, heart and, brain get hugely benefitted from its high nutritional value.

Warning:
Though Yuca is a super food which is worth considering being a part of your diet, certain important precautions are to be noted during its consumption.

• Never consume this vegetable raw! The toxin linamarin present in Yuca can be converted into cyanide by the digestive system thus proving to be fatal. Also, these toxins greatly affect the functioning of the liver and kidney when not properly cooked.
• The shelf life of Yuca being minimal can lead to parasitic infections, when not consumed fresh.

As long as the root is properly cleaned, peeled and cooked there is nothing to be scared of.
A simple recipe with Yuca:
After the peel is carefully removed with a knife, it can be boiled just like potatoes. Care should be taken that the fibrous stem running through its centre be removed with a fork. Heat a pan with two spoons of vegetable oil, sprinkled with mustard seeds and urad dhal. After the seeds splutter and the dhal turns bright red, cut onions can be added and sauted till the onions are well cooked. Then the vegetable coated with desired amount of chili powder and salt can be added to the pan and sauted for a few minutes. Your vegetable curry is ready!
Storage tips:
It should be stored in a cool, dry place and the peeled root can be immersed in water and stored in the fridge for a longer shelf life.
All said and done, Yuca can be certainly embraced as a super food to have a healthy system and kudos to mother nature for showering on us with this miraculous healthy boon!