Tapioca: nutritious properties and benefits of this flour

Tapioca: nutritious properties and benefits of this flour

The tapioca is the starch extracted from the Yucca (also known by the name of cassava), which was once very consumed by the indigenous people of the Amazon, where they made a kind of flat biscuits with a round shape that were served on large occasions, such as parties or births.

Considering that cassava is precisely the tuber, tapioca is the starch extracted from yucca, which provides a wide variety of advantages not only nutritional but also culinary, since with it you can make delicious desserts such as puddings, soups or a nutritious porridge with milk.

It comes in the form of pearls of white color of small size (hence it is considered as starch granules), which when hydrated and cooked tend to become transparent, highlighting above all its texture.

Do you know what tapioca is?

Basically we could define the tapioca as the Flour or starch from the yucca root, a wonderful Andean tuber also popularly known by the name of cassava.

While cassava is a plant that quickly spread through the countries of South America due mainly to its particular digestive, astringent and emollient qualities, little by little cassava flour (tapioca) was also beginning to be consumed, becoming thus in one of the most consumed foods in these countries, after wheat and rice.

Benefits of the most important tapioca

As with the properties of cassava, the tapioca It stands out for being a food suitable for people with celiac disease and gluten intolerance, being a food product completely free of gluten.

• Very energetic:It stands out for being a highly energetic food, ideal for athletes or for children and adolescents in the phase of growth and development, thanks especially to its high content of vitamins and minerals.
• Slow-absorbing carbohydrates:It is rich in complex carbohydrates, and is also easily digestible, so it provides satiety and helps to reduce our appetite, while at the same time It gives us great energy.
• Digestive and astringent qualities:Have astringent properties, emollients Y digestive, being recommended for people with stomach or digestive disorders or conditions, such as heartburn or gastritis. It is also suitable in case of heartburn.
• Good for intestinal transit:Not only thanks to its slow-absorbing carbohydrate content, but also because of its fiber content, it becomes an excellent option when it comes to balancing - and improving - intestinal transit, preventing constipation in a positive way.

Its content in starch is able to refresh the organism, while its consumption is advised in delicate people of stomach and intestines. In fact, it is easier to digest than flour.

In addition, for its nutritious wealth and its energetic contribution, it becomes a wonderful food for sick or convalescent people. In fact, it can be ideal as an option to prepare the first baby's porridge.

Nutritional properties of the tapioca

Unlike cassava, the calories provided by tapioca are somewhat higher. And is that although it is true that 100 grams of cassava contributed 120 calories, now the 100 grams of tapioca provide 354 calories, so its caloric power is much higher.

Highlights its high content of group B vitamins and in minerals like calcium, match Y potassium (Therefore, its use is not recommended in people with kidney problems or who must follow a diet low in potassium).

Here we highlight the nutritional composition of the tapioca for every 100 grams:

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Delicious recipes with yucca

This article is published for informational purposes only. You can not and should not replace the consultation with a Nutritionist. We advise you to consult your trusted Nutritionist. ThemesTubers food