Yucca is the edible root sometimes called “cassava” or “manioc.” A staple of Latin American, African and Asian cuisines, the brown-skinned, white-fleshed tropical vegetable is consumed boiled. You also find it dried and ground into a flour known as tapioca. Yucca is not overflowing with nutrients, but it is a good source of vitamin C and carbohydrates.
Vitamin C
A half cup of uncooked yucca contains 35 percent of the recommended daily value, or RDI, for vitamin C. This RDI is based on an adult’s daily 2,000-calorie diet. Like all vitamins, C is essential for healthy physical growth and cognitive development. The nutrient is also an antioxidant, a substance that neutralizes disease-causing molecules known as free radicals. Your body cannot make or store vitamin C. Thus, eating good sources of the nutrient, such as yucca, regularly is vital to your good health.
Minerals
Yucca contains little amounts of a few minerals. A half cup of the raw root provides 1 percent of the recommended daily intake for sodium and 2 percent for calcium and iron. Sodium keeps your blood pressure and the volume of blood circulating in your veins at a normal level. The mineral also facilitates the operation of your muscles and nervous system. Calcium keeps your veins toned, makes it possible for your muscles to contract and also facilitates nerve function. The mineral also contributes to strong bones and teeth. Iron is a trace mineral, a nutrient your body uses in small quantities. The substance is necessary in the production of hemoglobin, a protein that helps red blood cells carry oxygen through your body. Eat a varied diet that includes not only yucca, but also other fruits and vegetables that contain higher amounts of these minerals.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are sugars, starches and dietary fiber. Your body breaks sugars and starches down into energy. You cannot digest dietary fiber, which serves to keep your bowel movements regular and to regulate the concentration of cholesterol and glucose in the bloodstream. A half cup of uncooked yucca root has 13 percent of the recommended daily intake for carbohydrates, 7 percent of which are from dietary fiber.
Calories
The number of calories a food has represents how much energy is stored in it. When you eat something, its energy transfers to your body. Just like the fuel you add to a car, calories power your systems. Every person has her own daily caloric requirement. In general, healthy adults do well on about 2,000 calories a day. A half cup of unprepared yucca provides 160 calories.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Vegetable of the Month --- Tuber
- MedlinePlus; "Vitamin C"; Alison Evert; February 15, 2011
- MedlinePlus; "Sodium in Diet"; Dr. David Zieve et al.; May 26, 2010
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Calcium
- MayoClinic.com: Iron Deficiency Anemia -- Causes
- MedlinePlus; "Carbohydrates"; Dr. David Zieve et al.; June 14, 2011
- MedlinePlus; "Fiber"; Dr. Linda Vorvick et al.; July 22, 2010
- MedlinePlus; "Diet -- Calories"; Dr. David Zieve et al.; June 14, 2011
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