The yacón root, from Peru is a distant
relative of the sunflower. It grows in the warm, temperate
Andean valleys at elevations below 3,500 m. It's delicious
edible tubers, which are sweet and low in calories, hold
a variety of benefits. It has a mild sweet flavour and an
unusual moist, crunchy texture slightly reminiscent of fresh-picked
apple, pineapple and watermelon.
The unique market potential for yacon is as a dietetic
fiber due to its unique carbohydrate composition. Most other
roots and tubers store carbohydrates as starch – a
polymer of glucose; yacon stores carbohydrate as fructooligosacaride
(FOS) – a polymer composed mainly of fructose. Yacon
has a strong potential in international markets as an ingredient
in diet, diabetes, and colon-related heath food products.
Dried yacon root contains 50-70% FOS
and low proportion of simple sugars (e.g., glucose, fructose
and sucrose). The human body has no enzyme to hydrolyze
FOS, so it passes through the digestive tract unmetabolized,
providing few calories, a marketing strength for dieters
and diabetics. Yacon also acts as a prebiotic. The undigested
portion of yacon serves as food for “friendly”
bacteria, such as Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus species,
in the colon. Clinical studies have shown that administering
inulin can increase the number of these friendly bacteria
in the colon while simultaneously reducing the population
of harmful bacteria.
Yacon syrup, pressed from the roots, has a sweet flavor,
and is used as an alternative glucose free sweetener and
prebiotic with few calories.
Other benefits noted with FOS supplementation include increased
production of beneficial short-chain fatty acids such as
butyrate, increased absorption of calcium and magnesium,
and improved elimination of toxic compounds. Preclinical
studies indicate an increase in bone density after consumption
of FOS. In addition, the beneficial effects of FOS on the
presence of Bifidobacteria suggest an improved absorption
of vitamins, such as the B complexes.
Yacón tuber provides an excellent balance of 20
essential amino acids. It has one of the highest levels
of potassium found in any plant, and high levels of calcium,
magnesium, iron, and phosphorus.
Yacón is a useful sweet food for diabetics.
Yacon is a useful food for managing weight control and
obesity. It provides few calories 15-20Kcal/100g, whereas
bread typically contains around 50Kcal/100g.
Yacon acts as a pre-biotic and thereby helps the intestines
to function efficiently and eliminate toxins and waste products
from the body. It strengthens and activates the good bacilli
like L. acidophilus and B.bifidum which in turn enhances
our immune system and suppresses putrefactive pathogens
such as Candida albicans.
Yacon has proven useful in preventing the following conditions…
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