By Spy Uganda
This week President Yoweri Museveni broke the hearts of Ugandans who hoped for his intervention in the soaring prices of bread due to challenges with wheat supply. The leader told them to start eating cassava if they are unable to afford the commodity, especially at this time when essential commodities have become too expensive.
Now, let’s look at some of the benefits of eating this root vegetable;
Cassava is a tropical root vegetable that can be used along with potatoes, carrots, radishes and other tubers. Cassava is also used in flour, which is a kind of starch required in kitchens around the globe. Dry cassava flour can also be bought from grocery stores. Finding fresh roots of cassava plants is almost impossible because they tend to rot very quickly.
The leaves of this veggie can be used to prepare food as well. Compared to other green vegetables, the nutritional value of cassava is a little low. The leaves of this plant have higher protein content when compared to the nutrients found in the roots of cassava.
Skin Benefits Of Cassava
1. Smoothens And Brightens Your Complexion
The peel of cassava plants can be used as a skin exfoliator. You can split the peels, make a fresh paste out of them and use it as a scrub. Brush the face well for a few minutes and wash it off with cold water. Do this thrice a week to get good results.
2. Great Face Mask
Cassava plants also act as great face masks. Before you prepare your face mask, make sure you have washed your face with warm water. This will help in opening up the pores. The cassava mask will easily get absorbed and improve the texture and condition of your skin. Once you have washed your face, wait for it to dry completely. You may now rinse with cold water so that the pores close. Use your fingers to dry them. Doing this thrice a week will prevent and eliminate scars and impart a healthy glow in return.
Cassava can also hydrate your skin tone and make it smooth and soft. You will have to prepare a mask for this one at home. Take cassava plant roots with some honey or olive oil. You can combine it with fruit too. A few drops of lemon will also do.
Cassava starch water can help in healing wounds and scars if you apply it gently all over the affected area around twice a day.
Hair Benefits Of Cassava
It is not only your health and skin that will be on the receiving end of benefits when it comes to cassava! Using cassava roots and leaves will also help you see changes in the quality of your hair.
If you are tired of the condition of your hair, especially because of its slow growth, I would definitely recommend Cassava. Its roots and leaves can be used to make a fresh paste that can be applied to oiled hair an hour before you rinse it. Doing this twice a week will help you see changes.
6. Controls Hair Fall
Women have often complained about hair fall. They are tired of talking about it, and we are tired of hearing about it! A simple, quick and effective solution to this problem is cassava. This will nourish your hair from the roots to the tips, hydrate it and control hair fall.
Cassava plants are a powerhouse of nourishment. If you have hair that is dry or damaged, consider this plant and let it help repair all the damage.
Health Benefits Of Cassava
The tubes and roots of the cassava plant contain calories, proteins, fat, carbohydrates, iron, Vitamin B and C and also starch. The leaves contain calcium, iron, fats and protein too. No wonder they have been proved to be beneficial for your health, body and mind. With that said, let’s go through some of the major cassava health benefits.
8. Helps You Lose Weight
Cassava is very important for all those who are trying to shed those excess pounds that have accumulated over the years. It is found in rice and bread and is low in calories too. The high fiber content in cassava helps you stay full for a longer period and prevents binge eating.
Cassava contains fibers, which are not soluble in water (5). It helps in the absorption of toxins that enter your intestines. In that way, it improves your digestive health and keeps it chugging along nicely.
10. Helps In Overcoming Headaches
Most of us suffer from headaches, and for some, it can become unbearable. But you can treat it with the help of cassava! All you have to do for this is take 60 grams of cassava roots or leaves and soak it in water for a couple of hours. Make fresh juice using a blender and then drink it down twice a day. And banish those killer headaches!
11. Prevents Cancer
Here comes an amazing benefit of Cassava. Cassava helps in preventing life-threatening diseases such as cancer. The B17 content in these leaves helps in stimulating the content of red blood cells, the loss of which often leads to cancer.
12. Treats Diarrhea
Cassava addresses conditions such as diarrhoea too. You may take several pieces of cassava and boil it in water. Wait for it to come to room temperature. Drink this liquid twice a day to feel the difference.
Cassava is rich in Vitamin A and compounds such as bakarotennya that improve the health of your eyes and in the future prevent blindness or poor eyesight.
14. Cure Fever
Cassava leaves are also effective in treating fever. To get the best results, use the stem as well as the leaves of cassava to make a decoction. In order to make this, you have to boil the root and the leaves instead of steeping them in warm water. Simply take 400 grams of cassava leaves and 80 grams of the stem and boil them uncovered in a liter of water. When the volume of water is reduced by half, take it off the heat and cool.
15. Help Treat Rheumatic Diseases
Rheumatic diseases refer to diseases pertaining to the muscles and joints. Osteoporosis, arthritis, spondylitis and lupus are some examples. Cassava leaves are rich in magnesium. In fact, a diet high in magnesium leads to lowered blood pressure levels that reduce the chances of rheumatic diseases throughout life.
Cassava supplies more than a third of your daily magnesium requirement per serving. To make an all-natural rheumatic medication, take 150 grams of cassava leaves, some lemongrass and salt along with 15 grams of ginger root. Boil these ingredients in a liter of water until the volume has reduced to about 400ccs. Drink this potion every morning to keep rheumatic diseases at bay, among many other health benefits.
