Eating green vegetables is also very beneficial for improving our health. These vegetables not only provide us with nutrients but also protect our bodies from many diseases or help to cure many diseases. Elephant foot yam is a vegetable that is often used to improve our health. [1] This article describes the general information about the health benefits of elephant foot yam.
What is Elephant Foot Yam?
Elephant foot yam is a highly nutritious tropical tuber crop in the Araceae family. This plant is native to Asia. It grows wild in Sri Lanka, the Philippines, other Southern China, New Guinea, Northern Australia and Polynesia. The elephant foot yam plant is an important tuber crop in tropical and subtropical countries. This plant is widely used for its high nutritional value and several health benefits.
In Ayurvedic medicine, it is used to treat emesis, dysmenorrhoea, fatigue, constipation, piles, dyspepsia, inflammation, tumors, elephantiasis, rheumatism and others. Elephant foot yams are useful in maintaining healthy hormone levels in the body.
Plant Description
Elephant foot yam is an Ayurvedic herb that can reach a height of about 1.5 m. The plant is found developing in secondary forests and coastal monsoon forests and cover or highly disturbed areas and in dry valley areas or completely exposed areas and grasslands. It is a short-stemmed herb, with tuberous roots. The tuber is an underground stem. It is subglobose, bulbous, dark gray, warty and 18 to 25 cm thick. The leaves are dark green. The leaf blade is divided into hundreds of small leaflets. The plant blooms annually at the beginning of the rainy season. The flower bud arises from the action as a purple shoot and later blooms as a purple inflorescence. The fruits are green at first and turn red when mature.
Nutritional value of per 100 g Elephant Foot Yam/Amorphophallus Paeoniifolius
| Calories | 118 |
| Moisture | 66 g |
| Carbohydrates | 25 g |
| Fat | 1.5 g |
| Protein | 9.81 g |
| Dietary fiber | 5.7 g |
| Potassium | 1208 mg |
| Calcium | 20 mg |
| Iron | 1.8 mg |
| Magnesium | 82 mg |
| Sodium | 14.2 mg |
| Zinc | 2 mg |
| Copper | 0.3 mg |
Scientific Classification of Elephant Foot Yam/Amorphophallus Paeoniifolius
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Clade: Tracheophytes
- Clade: Angiosperms
- Clade: Monocots
- Order: Alismatales
- Family: Araceae
- Genus: Amorphophallus
- Species: A. Paeoniifolius
- Scientific name: Amorphophallus paeoniifolius
Benefits of Elephant Foot Yam
1. Lowering cholesterol
The use of elephant foot yam is known to reduce the level of bad cholesterol in the body. It is widely used as a slimming food. The omega-3 fatty acids in it help increase the level of good cholesterol in the body, while reducing the level of low-density lipoprotein and very low-density lipoprotein. Elephant yam contains fiber, making it an ideal food for weight loss.
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2. Cardiovascular health
Elephant foot yam is really helpful in maintaining good cardiovascular health. There are various reasons why this vegetable is good for heart health.
3. Anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory
As an effective anticoagulant, elephant foot yam may help reduce the risk of heart attack. It helps to prevent clots in arteries and veins. This can help reduce high blood pressure and reduce further complications such as coronary artery disease.
4. Prevent cancer
Since we all know that elephant foot yam is rich in fiber, it is very useful in preventing colon cancer. In addition, these vegetables are also rich in vitamin A. This vitamin is beneficial in preventing cancer of the lungs and oral cavity.
5. Slow down aging
The powerful antioxidants in elephant foot yam are said to be effective in slowing down the aging process. It helps to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and stroke. Another important ingredient in elephant foot yam is vitamin C which helps in slowing down the aging process. It slows down the aging process by making the skin spotless and wrinkle-free.
6. Good for diabetes
You all know that elephant yam has a low glycemic index and therefore people with diabetes can enjoy it freely without any fear of rising blood sugar.
7. Helps detoxification
Elephant foot yam is a powerful detoxifier. High fiber content in it shows toxic detoxification in the liver. Elephant foot yam is best known for its hepato-protective activity. It helps to properly clean the intestines and other internal organs, including the stomach, thus disinfecting them.
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8. It is anti-inflammatory
Elephant foot yam is also used to treat hemorrhoids and piles. It is also recommended in the treatment of arthritis. It helps reduce muscle contraction. Other applications of its anti-inflammatory activity are found in rheumatism, elephantiasis, inflammation of the glands and others.
9. Memory and concentration
A rich source of omega-3 fatty acids as well as other essential minerals such as zinc, selenium, magnesium, phosphorus, elephant foot yam help improve memory and concentration.
10. Boost immunity
Elephant foot yam are excellent supplements for probiotics. It not only cleanses the body of toxins and germs, but also creates good bacteria to improve the immune system. Elephant foot yams are also said to contain antibacterial agents that help fight infections.
11. Cures piles
The piles are very painful indeed. You can cure this problem by using elephant foot yam. You just need to cut the elephant yam into small and thin pieces and dry them in the sunlight. Make a powder out of them. Take half to one teaspoon of this powder with water twice daily. To counteract this painful problem, you should create a balanced and healthy meal menu.
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12. Women health
Elephant foot yam is said to be an estrogen boosting food. These benefits make elephant yam an excellent food for those who want to increase estrogen levels. The vitamin B6 and antispasmodic properties of elephant foot yam help prevent and cure PMS or Premenstrual Symptoms. If you are a pregnant or breastfeeding mother, you must get your doctor’s approval before consuming this vegetable.
13. Cooling effects
Elephant foot yams have a cooling effect on the body. It helps in reducing high blood pressure and also facilities smooth blood flow in the arteries and veins. It reduces stress and is recommended to be included in the diet especially in hot areas due to its cooling effect.
14. Good for digestion
Regular consumption of elephant foot yam can help you improve your digestive health. These elephant yams have antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, carminative, appetite stimulant, digestive and gastrointestinal properties. These effects help improve in treating constipation, bloating, larval infections, ulcers, excessive stomach acid and many other stomach problems. Regular use of elephant yam can help gastrointestinal problems including constipation, irregular bowel movements, and redness.
15. Skin and hair care benefits
Elephant foot yam contains skin-friendly nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin B6 and various minerals. All these nutrients not only help to combat the signs of aging but also make your skin look brighter and younger. Elephant foot yams are a treasure trove of antioxidants that help keep skin soft, tight, and healthy looking.
Vitamin A and other nutrients in elephant foot yam help hair growth. Beta-carotene deficiency is responsible for dry hair, split ends and flaky scalp. Hence, eat this vegetable regularly to get an adequate shot of beta-carotene. Vitamin B6 in elephant foot yam helps prevent and cure hair loss.
Other benefits of Elephant foot yam
- Regular consumption of elephant foot yam improves taste.
- According to Ayurveda, if you have swollen feet like elephant feet, abdominal pain, pain or swelling of your gums, you should take 100 g of elephant foot yam curry daily for a month.
- Dry the elephant foot yam and grind it. Fry the powder in a little butter and add 1 teaspoon of sugar and take it for 2 months.
- Cut the elephant foot yam into pieces, boil it, add water and fry it in butter and take it for 10 weeks to relieve hemorrhoids.
Uses of Elephant Foot Yam
Elephant foot yam is used in various dishes like fried, curry etc. You can enjoy it by making elephant foot yam pickles and adding it to various dishes.
Elephant foot yam has annoying properties, so before using this vegetable, cut it and boil it in water with vinegar and lemon. Then you can enjoy it in different forms. Remember to submerge them in a bowl of water until you are ready to cook as they tend to discolor and oxidize.
Side Effects and Precaution Elephant Foot Yam
Elephant foot yam has many benefits but excessive use can be harmful. The side effects of elephant foot yam has given below–
- Excessive use of it can cause itching of the throat.
- If a person is already taking any medicine, he should consult a doctor before using it.
- People suffering from asthma and sinusitis should avoid taking elephant foot yam.
- It is cold and therefore should not be consumed by breastfeeding mothers.
- If anyone wants to include elephant foot yam in their diet, consult a doctor about it.
- People suffering from rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones and hyperacidity should take special precautions if they include this plant in their diet.
- Elephant foot yam can cause side effects such as vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and headache.
- It should not be taken by people with skin diseases and bleeding disorders or jaundice.
Therefore, considering the benefits and harms of elephant foot yam, it should be used in the right amount, as excessive use of any product can harm our health. Consult a doctor before using elephant foot yam in the treatment of diseases.
Conclusion
This article must have given you a general introduction to the health benefits of elephant foot yam. You may have learned about the benefits, uses, harms, scientific names and other health related properties of elephant foot yam. I hope the information mentioned in this article will help you in different ways in different problems. Thank you!
FAQ
1. What is elephant foot yam good for?
Ans: It helps in weight loss. Elephant foot yam is rich in good intestinal bacteria and can help rebuild the digestive process. Therefore, people suffering from bloating, gastric problems due to IBS can benefit from eating this vegetable.
2. What is the scientific name of elephant foot yam?
Ans: The scientific name of elephant foot yam is Amorphophallus paeoniifolius.
3. Can diabetics eat elephant foot yam?
Ans: Elephant foot yam is safe and beneficial for diabetic patients, so yes they can eat this vegetable.
4. Why does elephant foot yam itch?
Ans: Elephant foot yam contains calcium oxalate/saponin juice when in contact with the skin. It causes redness and itching for a while and is irritating. Its bark contains tiny crystals of calcium oxalate and saponins.
5. Do I have side effects if I take too much elephant foot yam?
Ans: Yes, excessive uses of any product can cause side effects.