The Health Benefits of Eating Cassava Root
What is cassava root?
Cassava is a Paleo-friendly root vegetable that, like carrots, is both totally delicious and completely Paleo. What’s more, it offers incredible health benefits because of its high vitamin, mineral and fiber content. We use it as a delicious and moist base ingredient in our paleo protein brownies.
Why is cassava fiber so healthy?
Fiber derived from Cassava root is phenomenal in that it boasts some of the benefits of the cassava root (see below!) while also having zero net carbs.
What are the health benefits of eating cassava root?
We’ve borrowed these highlights from the wonderfully thorough and beautifully researched Livestrong article on Whole Cassava Root. The fiber in our paleo protein brownies is derived from this ingredient. To read that full article at length, please click here. Alternatively, these are several key highlights:
It's a Great Source of Fiber, Magnesium & Copper
Cassava is loaded with dietary fiber. Consuming this fiber is linked to a number of health benefits, including lower blood pressure, reduced cholesterol levels, better control over your blood sugar levels and a lower risk of obesity. Each cup of cassava -- approximately half of a root -- boosts fiber intake by 3.7 grams.2. Cassava also helps you consume more magnesium and copper. A diet rich in magnesium promotes life-long health, lowering your blood pressure and reducing your risk of osteoporosis, while a diet rich in copper helps support healthy nerve function. A cup of cassava contains 206 micrograms of copper, or 23 percent of the copper you need each day, determined by the Institute of Medicine. Cassava also increases your manganese intake by 0.8 milligram per serving -- more than one-third of the daily requirement for men and 44 percent for women.
It's a Great Source of Vitamin C and Folate
The vitamin C and folate abundant in cassava also offer health benefits. Each cup of cassava contains 56 micrograms of folate, or 14 percent of your daily folate intake requirements, as well as 42 milligrams of vitamin E. This amount contributes 56 and 47 percent towards the daily vitamin C intake recommendations for women and men, set by the Institute of Medicine. Including more folate in your diet protects against colon cancer and reduces the risk of complications during pregnancy and a diet high in vitamin C offers protection against coronary heart disease and several types of cancer.