Yautia is a plant belonging to Xanthosoma sagittifolium, it is a plant cultivated from several plants in the Araceae family that is useful for taking tubers, stems, and leaves. Now this South American native plant has begun to be cultivated throughout the world.
Yautia plants are known by several different names according to where they grow. Among them are American Taro, Arrowleaf Elephant’s Ear, Barbados Nut Eddoe, Cocoyam, Elephant Ears, Green Arrow Elephant Ears, New Cocoyam, Tannia, Malanga, Uyautia, Yautia, Yellow Yautia, Yannia Leaf Spinach, Yellow Ocumo, and Yautia Tannia. The name is quite varied, by knowing these names you will easily find it because the essence of this plant is the same.
Yautia is an herbal plant that grows in tropical and subtropical areas with a good watering. It has strong roots that are gnarled and spread widely. The fruit is often eaten directly or added to a variety of food recipes, the shape of the fruit is like a small cherry and yellow. What is the history of the Yautia plant? Here we summarize briefly.
Yautia History
At first, the Yautia or American plant Taro was cultivated in North and South America, before expanding to Mesoamerica, the Caribbean, Asia, Africa, and the Pacific.
In Africa, this plant appeared in the 1800s after it was cultivated in Tropical America. Now Yautia is also cultivated in the Philippines, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. It is considered to be the oldest plant found in the Marshall Islands in Japan. Lately, there are different varieties and were introduced to this island.
Plant
Yautia is a strong herbal plant and usually grows with a height of 1.5 to 2 meters. Characteristics are leaves in the shape of an arrow head, some even have a heart shape, it has a width of 60 cm and a length of 90 cm. Solid green color and thick bestector. While the tuber has brown-orange skin with thin hair. The tuber flesh is white like regular Taro, the size of the tuber is around 15-25 cm.
Yautia Nutritional Value
Yautia-Xanthosoma Sagittifolium, also known as “yautia” or “tannia,” is a tropical root vegetable that is rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It contains high levels of dietary fiber, which helps to promote healthy digestion, and is a good source of potassium and magnesium, which is important for heart health. Additionally, yautia is an excellent source of vitamin A, which helps to protect the eyes and skin and is necessary for healthy cell growth. It also contains a wide variety of other nutrients, including vitamin C, calcium, iron, and zinc. Yautia is considered a superfood due to its wide range of health benefits and its nutritional value, making it an excellent addition to any diet.
In a cup of Yautia with a size of 135 grams contains 132 calories. The same size offers 0.347 mg of copper, 0.32 of vitamin B6, 31.9 of carbohydrates, potassium: 807, iron: 1.32, vitamin B1: 0.131 and manganese of 0.251 mg
Health Benefits of Yautia
After knowing a number of nutrients in Yautia, now we need to see what are the benefits of this tuber.
Yautia is a plant that is rich in vitamin B6, copper, carbohydrates, pearls, iron and potassium. Yautia is one of the plants with the lowest allergy potential, so it is very good as a food for those who often experience food allergies. Consuming yautia can increase energy, maintain sugar, and help maintain intestinal health and prevent high blood pressure.
1. Good for brain health
Copper affects to galactose and dopamine so that it helps maintain energy, maintain a good mood, focus, and vision, focus and vision.
If the body lacks copper, it can cause fatigue, a low metabolism, a bad mood, and concentration with concentration. In addition, copper also helps utilize antioxidants such as vitamin C, tyrosinase and ascorbate oxidase. In turn, they help prevent damage to the brain and slow down the aging process.
2. Thyroid problems
One of the functions of copper is to balance the function of the thyroid, so its existence is very important, the presence of copper is very important for thyroid health. Copper collaborates with minerals such as potassium, calcium, and zinc to produce a balance in thyroid activity. The function of copper can also prevent the problem of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.
When a person experiences an excess of some minerals in the body, it will suffer from a thyroid that can eventually increase or lose weight. In addition, there is a change in appetite, excessive fatigue, and changes in body temperature.
3. Promote the mood
One of the vitamins that have an important impact on the production of the hormone GABA neurotransmitters and serotonin. This hormone is useful to keep the body fit and prevent fatigue and maintain the mood. This hormone also prevents anxiety, depression, and pain. So, Yautia is a very good food to maintain the mood because it is rich in vitamin B6.
Yautia-Xanthosoma Sagittifolium is an excellent source of Vitamin B6, which plays an essential role in the production of GABA neurotransmitters and serotonin – hormones that keep the body functioning optimally and prevent fatigue. Vitamin B6 is also beneficial for maintaining mental health, as it helps to reduce anxiety, depression, and pain. By incorporating Yautia into your diet, you can ensure that your body is getting the essential nutrients it needs to stay in balance and remain in a positive mood.
4. Treating anemia
Furthermore, vitamin B6 which is present in Yautia plays an important role in producing hemoglobin in the blood. His role is so important because he can help supply oxygen to red blood cells and play an active role in moving iron.
Anemia is a condition in which there are not enough red blood cells so that sufferers can experience pain, pain, and fatigue. Adequate vitamin B6 is very important to prevent the emergence of anemia and prevent its development.
5. Good for blood vessels
Furthermore, Yautia’s health benefits are maintaining healthy blood vessels. The benefits of vitamin B6 are to maintain homocysteine stability in the blood. If these substances are high in the blood it can cause inflammation and can even cause heart attacks, and damage to blood vessels.
The homocysteine development when vitamin B6 is absent, it can cause damage to blood vessels. If this happens, the bad effects are stroke and heart attack.
6. Maintaining heart health
Potassium serves to control the activity of the heart to remain stable. Yautia is a food that contains potassium, so it is good for consumption to get a healthy heart. potassium also normalizes heart rate and blood pressure. The study explains that diets that are low in potassium and high in sodium are harmful to health because they can cause hypertension, cardiovascular and high blood pressure.
Potassium mixed with magnesium and calcium is good for preventing fluid buildup in cells. If a person is deficient in potassium then he will experience pain in the chest area, irregular heartbeat or can even cause the cessation of the heartbeat.
7. Prevents kidney disease
Yautia-Xanthosoma sagittifolium, commonly referred to as taro, is a tropical root vegetable that has been used for centuries in many traditional cuisines around the world. Not only is it a delicious source of carbohydrates, but it is also packed with essential vitamins and minerals. It is especially rich in potassium, which can help to reduce the risk of kidney stones.
Potassium works in tandem with calcium to regulate the level of fluid in the body, and a diet high in potassium can help to reduce the formation of calcium deposits in the urine which can lead to kidney stones. In addition, taro is also rich in magnesium, another mineral that can help to prevent kidney stones.
Magnesium helps to reduce the risk of stone formation by increasing the solubility of calcium in the urine, making it less likely to form crystalline deposits. By incorporating taro into your diet, you can ensure that your body has enough potassium and magnesium to help reduce the risk of kidney stones.
8. Helps the health of pregnant women
Yautia-xanthosoma sagittifolium, also known as taro root, is a nutritious vegetable with multiple health benefits. Rich in iron, it is an important dietary source of this essential mineral, particularly for pregnant women. Iron is vital for pregnant women because a lack of it can cause a range of issues, such as cognitive impairment in the baby, premature birth, and inhibited growth. Consuming yautia regularly can help provide the necessary iron to prevent these issues, ensuring a healthy birth with a baby of normal weight.
Yautia is also a great source of other important minerals, including potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc. These minerals also play a critical role in the health of pregnant women and their babies, helping to regulate blood pressure and promote healthy brain and bone development. Additionally, yautia is packed with vitamins A and C, which are essential for a healthy immune system during pregnancy and for the baby’s growth. All of these nutrients make it a valuable part of any pregnant woman’s diet.
9. Increase body immunity
Yautia benefits are also good for boosting immunity. Vitamin B1 in Yautia is very good for the body’s immunity. it plays a role in giving color to the muscles of the digestive wall.
Nutrition from a food is also absorbed by the digestive wall, this will increase immunity. In addition, Vitamin B1 is also beneficial in chloride secretion, and this is the most important factor in the absorption of nutrients from food.
10. Good for detoxification
One of the functions of the kidneys is to eliminate organic molecules in the blood. The loss of this molecule is very important for the performance of kidney function to be maintained and good in removing toxins and waste. Kidney as a digestive organ is very dependent on electrolytes such as magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and this serves to balance fat, water in the body, and sodium.
Traditional uses of Yautia
- Yautia leaves are usually used in Malaysia as a medicine to relieve fever.
- Palawan people use the sap of inflorescence as a traditional medicine to treat wounds, ward off insect stings
- In the northwest of the Amazon, Yautia is used as a traditional herb to cure snakebites.
Precautions of Yautia
Yautia-Xanthosoma Sagittifolium, otherwise known as taro, is a nutritious root vegetable that is widely consumed in many parts of the world. Rich in essential vitamins and minerals, it has numerous health benefits, including improved cardiovascular health, lowered cholesterol, and better digestive health. Additionally, it is a good source of energy and protein and has a low glycemic index, making it a great choice for diabetics.
Despite its numerous benefits, yautia should be consumed with caution, as it may contain high levels of oxalic acid, which can be toxic if consumed in large quantities. It is also important to take care when preparing yautia, as its raw form can cause skin irritation. When cooked, yautia can be boiled, steamed, or fried and is traditionally served as a side dish or a main course.
Overall, yautia is a nutritious and delicious food that can be enjoyed with moderation and caution. another caution of Yautia is as below:
- The sap from this plant can cause irritation, so use it with caution.
- Yautia is known to contain calcium oxalate crystals, this substance can cause irritation to the throat and mouth.
How to Eat Yautia
Yautia-Xanthosoma Sagittifolium is a nutrient-dense root vegetable with a multitude of health benefits and nutritional value. It can be prepared in a variety of ways, from boiled and mashed, to fried and made into a soup or stew.
For a nutrient-rich meal, yautia can be boiled and combined with leafy greens, beans, and/or other vegetables. For a savory breakfast dish, the vegetable can be boiled and then fried with onions, garlic, and spices.
Additionally, yautia can be boiled and then pureed into a creamy soup or stew, topped with a drizzle of olive oil, or added to a variety of salads. No matter how one chooses to prepare it, yautia-xanthosoma sagittifolium is an excellent way to add nutrition, flavor, and health benefits to any meal.
You want to cook it, let see how to prepare it for your cooking.
- Grated Yautia leaves can be added to cooking both for roasting, boiling, steaming or frying.
- The tuber can be boiled like potatoes, added to soup, it can also be added to foods like mondongo
- The roots are used as additives in juice, and chicken and spices. This happened in Suriname and the Netherlands.
- Yautia flour is used as a substitute for flour in making various cakes.
- The benefits of yautia are also used as soup thickener
- Yautia roots can be peeled, fried like chips.
