Tapioca - Health Benefits

Tapioca – Health Benefits

Everyone is familiar with Tapioca. But is anyone aware of its benefits? I don’t think so, because most of us consider Tapioca as a simple food with no benefits at all. This fact is not true. It is a fact that Tapioca contains a lot of carbohydrates and this starch extract is extremely delicious too. The thick fleshy white inner part of Tapioca is eaten after it is cooked well in water. In most countries, Tapioca is used as an ingredient for puddings, since it has a lot of starch content. 

Those of you, who prefer a gluten free diet, can choose Tapioca. It is seen that people with Celiac Disease are advised food without gluten. Gluten is actually a protein found in wheat, barley, triticale and rye. Tapioca is a natural gluten free food that can be consumed with ease.

Health Benefits

·         Improves digestion

·         Helps in preventing diabetes

·         Helps in protecting the density of bone minerals

·         Helps to prevent Alzheimer’s disease

·         Avoids birth defects

·         Increases the circulation of blood

·         Increases the Red blood corpuscles in blood

·         Helps to lower cholesterol

·         Good for the health of heart

·         Helps in maintaining the body’s blood fluid balance

·         Increases the energy level

Nutritional facts

Most countries in the world enjoy the goodness of Tapioca and have included it in their diets. Tapioca is a true blend of Carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins as well as organic compounds. It does not have cholesterol, sodium and has a very low level of saturated fat. It contains B6, Folate, Pantothenic acid, calcium, copper, selenium, manganese and iron. A small amount of cooked Tapioca can provide you load of carbohydrates necessary for your daily activities.

Defects of Tapioca

Even though Tapioca is eaten by people all round the world, you must be cautious while preparing it. If it is not cooked properly, you may tend to poison yourself. Cassava is considered poisonous if not cooked or processed well. Tapioca produces cyanide, which is poisonous and can harm humans. Never pick tapioca that is grown wild, since they can harm you.

Those of you who are in a weight loss diet need not attempt to eat Tapioca, since it can increase your weight.

Preserving Tapioca

Preserving Tapioca is a challenge. Whenever you purchase Tapioca fresh from the store, you can peel off the outer covering and cut them into small pieces. Wash the pieces of cassava in water for two to three times. Drain off water and put the pieces in a zip lock pouch. Freeze it in the freezer of the refrigerator. This can stay fresh for one whole week. Though many people fear eating frozen tapioca, understand the fact that freezing it when it is fresh, always makes it pretty safe and long lasting. Try out this gluten free food and enjoy its taste in puddings, or simply cook it in water with a small amount of salt. You sure would enjoy it a lot.