Health benefits of cassava

Cassava pile after harvest
Cassava (yuca or manioc) is a nutty flavored, starch-tuber
in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) of plants. It thought
to have originated from the South-American forests. Its
sweet, chewy underground tuber is one of the popular
edible root-vegetables. Indigenous people of many parts of
Africa, Asia and South American continents used it as
staple food source since centuries. Together with other
tropical roots and starch-rich foods like yam, taro,
plantains, potato, etc, it too is an indispensable part of
carbohydrate diet for millions of inhabitants living in these
regions.
Some of the common names include manioc, or mandioca in
Brazil, manihot, tapioca and yuca. Scientific name:Manihot
esculenta (Crantz).
Cassava has nearly twice the calories than that of potatoes
and perhaps one of the highest value calorie food for any
tropical starch rich tubers and roots. 100 g root provides
160 calories. Their calorie value mainly comes from sucrose
which accounts for more than 69 per cent of total sugars.
Amylose (16-17 per cent) is another major complex
carbohydrate sources.
Cassava is very low in fats and protein than in cereals and
pulses. Nonetheless, it has more protein than that of other
tropical food sources like yam, potato, plantains, etc.
As in other roots and tubers, cassava too is free from
gluten. Gluten-free starch is used in special food
preparations for celiac disease patients.
Young tender cassava (yuca) leaves are a good source of
dietary proteins and vitamin K. Vitamin-K has a potential
role in bone mass building by promoting osteotrophic activity
in the bones. It also has established role in the treatment
of Alzheimer’s disease patients by limiting neuronal
damage in the brain.
Cassava is a moderate source of some of the valuable B-
complex group of vitamins such as folates, thiamin,
pyridoxine (vitamin B-6), riboflavin, and pantothenic
acid.
Itis one of the chief sources of some important minerals
like zinc, magnesium, copper, iron, and manganese for
many inhabitants in the tropical belts.