Yucca, also known as cassava, is a tuber vegetable that is commonly consumed in Latin America, Asia and Africa where it is a main food staple. Yucca can be substituted for potatoes in soups and other food dishes and, since it is also high in starch, it can be used as a flour. The Centers for Disease Control reports that yucca offers several nutritional benefits including fiber, protein, minerals and several necessary vitamins.
Vitamin C
The USDA National Nutrient Database reports that one cup serving of raw yucca contains 42.4 mg of vitamin C, which is 71 percent of the recommended daily intake. Vitamin C is water soluble, and therefore is not stored in fat cells. Since any vitamin C you do not use is excreted from the body in urine, you need to replace it daily. Vitamin C is needed to form collagen, maintain healthy skin, membranes and a healthy immune system. As an antioxidant vitamin it helps protect the body from DNA damage that can be caused by free radicals. Vitamin C's antioxidant properties may also help protect the body from cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes, according to the Linus Pauling Institute.
B Vitamins
Yucca contains several vitamins from the B family, including folate, thiamin, B6, niacin, riboflavin and pantothenic acid. The vitamins in the B family all play a role in the production of blood cells, chemical reactions and energy metabolism. The American Cancer society reports that if you have low levels of B vitamins in your body your immune system may weaken, leaving you with an increased risk for developing certain types of cancers. Consuming yucca root significantly contributes to your daily intake of B vitamins.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is responsible for proper clotting of the blood, and without the right amount of it in your body you could bleed to death from a simple wound. A one cup serving of yucca root contains 3.9 micrograms of vitamin K, which is 5 percent of your recommended daily intake. A word of precaution -- if you are currently on blood thinning medication, such as warfarin or coumadin, foods rich in vitamin K can interfere with how your medication works. Speak to your doctor before adding such foods to your diet.
Antioxidant Vitamins E and A
Like vitamin C, vitamins E and A are antioxidant vitamins that can protect the body from free radical damage. Although not in high amounts, yucca root contains 0.4 mg of vitamin E and 27 IU of vitamin A, which are 2 percent and 1 percent of the RDI, respectively. Consuming even a small amount of antioxidant vitamins A and E contributes to reaching your daily goal of 100 percent of their daily intake.
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